Category: Newsletter

1. WhatsApp is introducing a new feature that will let users access their photo and video gallery directly from the chat bar instead of navigating through the attachment menu. Users can also still record instant video messages by tapping and holding the new gallery button, keeping a familiar feature for quick responses.

2. The (Practice and Procedure) Amendment Ordinance 2024 will be presented in the National Assembly today. Details of the bill reveal that cases will be handled on a “first-come, first-served” basis, Aaj news reports.

Every case in the Supreme Court will be heard by a special bench supervised by the Chief Justice.

New Sections 7A and 7B have been added: Section 7A will ensure transparent hearing criteria, maintaining the “first-come, first-served” approach. Section 7B outlines how records and transcripts of SC proceedings can be provided to parties upon payment of fees.

These amendments aim to clarify the Supreme Court’s powers under Article 191 of the Constitution, ensuring decisions under Clause (3) of Article 184 are based on public importance.

The President has issued the Supreme Court Amendment Ordinance 2024 under Article 89 of the Constitution, and it will take effect immediately.

3. Senior Minister Punjab government Maryam Aurangzeb has denied Nawaz Sharif’s claim regarding the purchase of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The provincial government, however, is reportedly working on the launching of Punjab Airlines which might include domestic as well as major international routes.

4. Pakistan’s largest independent power producer, Hub Power Company (Hubco), will be exploring lithium mining, battery production, and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing. 

Hubco was founded in 1991, has a generation capacity of over 3,500 megawatts and is looking to diversify its operations. These upcoming projects aim to address the increasing demand for batteries and EVs in the country.

A lithium exploration and battery production project is anticipated to be completed within 12 to 18 months, catering to the growing need for rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, and cars.

5. Local gold prices fell again over the weekend as the international market continued to decline, according to traders.

Gold dropped by Rs1,700, bringing the price to Rs283,000 per tola, and decreased by Rs1,457 to Rs242,627 per 10 grams, according to the All Sindh Saraf Jewellers Association.

For more daily updates, sign up for our Newsletter.

1. Instagram has recently announced to lower the quality of older videos with fewer views, and it has upset many creators. Adam Mosseri, the platform’s head, explains that higher quality is given to content that attracts more views — which has been perceived as unfair to smaller creators.

Critics argue this hurts artistic expression and makes it harder for new creators to gain visibility, allowing established ones to keep benefiting. The decision seems driven by storage costs.

2. The Punjab government has imposed a green lockdown in the provincial capital to control the increasing smog and air pollution in Lahore.

Under the notification issued by the Punjab Environment Department, there will be a complete ban on development work in areas declared as hotspot areas for air pollution and smog; commercial generators will not be operated in these areas.

Entry into Ching Chee rickshaws in these areas will be strictly prohibited, and open barbecuing in these areas will be prohibited after 8 pm.

3. The UN has warned that poorer countries are struggling with a weak global economy and stressed on the need to rethink development strategies. 

A report from the UN’s trade and development agency, UNCTAD, has evaluated that slow growth, rising debt, and weak investment are widening the gap between developing and wealthier countries.

Global GDP growth is predicted to be just 2.7 per cent this year and in 2025 – a decrease from an average of 3.0 per cent from 2011 to 2019.

4. Winter is almost here – which means gas load shedding is about to worsen with the increase in demand. Gas companies SNGPL and SSGCL have asked for a price increase of up to 54 per cent to meet their revenue needs for the current fiscal year (FY25).

Gas prices are adjusted twice a year after the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) makes required estimates, which the government then uses to set consumer prices.

Ogra will hold a public hearing on November 8 to discuss Sui Southern Gas Company Limited’s (SSGC) request for a rate of Rs669 per unit (mmBtu), a 53.5 per cent increase, whereas hearing for Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited’s (SNGPL) proposed increase of 3.66 per cent is on November 5.

5. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid package has been delayed, and Pakistan’s foreign aid has dropped by 60 per cent to $2.3 billion in the first quarter (July-September) of the current fiscal year. About $5.73 billion was received during the same period last year.

According to a report published in Dawn newspaper, in its monthly report on Foreign Economic Assistance (FEA) released on Tuesday, the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) said that the country received an annual disbursement of $19.4 billion in the first quarter. 1.3 billion was received against the target.

These figures show a significant decline from the $3.527 billion received last year when the annual target was $17.6 billion.

For more daily updates, sign up for our Newsletter.

1. The bill to increase the number of Supreme Court judges will be presented in the National Assembly by the government on Friday.

If passed, the number will increase from 17 to 23, resulting in the Court consisting of 23 judges, including the Chief Justice.

On the other hand, consultation on the amendment of the Practice and Procedure Act is also underway.

2. Not only will Karachi be hot for the next two days, but now the Pakistan Meteorological Department  (PMD) has revealed that the city will experience winter for a shorter period. The temperatures are likely to start decreasing in mid-December, with the overall cold season remaining comparatively warmer than normal.

3. Pakistan is currently on a mission to vaccinate more than 45 million children across the country against polio – a job always risky since religious extremism and superstition among a large number of people who think it is Western propaganda against population growth has become a major barrier in the complete eradication of the virus in the country.

Armed persons opened fire on the polio team in Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It should be noted that this year, the number of polio-affected children across the country has reached 39 this year.

4. The Pakistan-Iran border has been closed yet again amid security concerns. But the locals are unhappy considering many are financially dependent on it.

A large protest was held outside the Balochistan Assembly this week, calling for unrestricted trade with Iran and Afghanistan.

5. Well, for a change, Lahore took a backseat as Faisalabad ranked number one on Tuesday morning, with the air quality being hazardous.

Back in Lahore, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat indicated that schools would be closed if the pollution worsened.