Current Final

Blog

  • US military magazine heaps praise on COAS Gen Asim Munir

    US military magazine heaps praise on COAS Gen Asim Munir

    The US Central Command (CENTCOM) magazine Unipath lauded the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir as a “forceful voice against violent extremists.”

    The magazine stated that the General will be remembered as a leader whose foremost commitment resides in the security, stability and prosperity of Pakistan.

    The article highlighted Gen Asim’s role in counterterrorism efforts, including his stance on fifth-generation warfare and capability to respond to foreign aggression, as well as socioeconomic measures.

    “Gen. Asim Munir has taken decisive action against Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP) within Pakistan, known as Fitna al Khawarij. Under his leadership, through July 2024, 22,409 intelligence-based operations have been conducted against terrorists and their facilitators. They eliminated 398 terrorists, including 31 high-value targets,” the article stated.

    It also quoted Gen Asim’s speech to a jirga in Peshawar on August 7, 2023, in which the Gen remarked: “There is no option for these terrorists except to submit to the writ of the state of Pakistan before they are decimated if they persist on their wrong path.”

    It also mentioned that the Pakistan Army, under Gen Asim’s leadership, is fully prepared to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the motherland.

    The Unipath magazine article highlighted how Pakistan’s “sovereignty was challenged on January 16, 2024, when Iran carried out a series of missile and drone strikes within Pakistan’s Balochistan province resulting in the deaths of two innocent children.”

    “To express its resolve and redeem its stature, on January 18, Pakistan conducted a meticulously planned and precisely targeted series of military strikes based on credible intelligence against terrorist hideouts in the Sistan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran. This operation, codenamed Marg Bar Sarmachar, resulted in the elimination of several terrorists,” stated the magazine.

    It also applauded the Chief’s role in trying to improve the economic conditions of the country through the initiative of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Green Pakistan Initiative for job creation and economic development.

    Meanwhile, on Wednesday, over 60 democratic lawmakers of the United States House of Representatives called on US President Joe Biden in a letter to use Washington’s leverage with Pakistan to secure the release of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan.

    “We write today to urge you to use the United States’ substantial leverage with Pakistan’s government to secure the release of political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Khan, and curtail widespread human rights abuses,” the letter read.

    PTI leader Qasim Khan Suri has been actively campaigning to engage with US lawmakers as he took to X to post: “Thank you, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Congresswoman Cori Bush, for supporting human rights & democracy in Pakistan and calling for the release of political prisoners including former Prime Minister Imran Khan.”

  • BRICS currency: Will it work?

    BRICS currency: Will it work?

    BRICS countries, such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, are deliberating the launch of a new reserve currency using blockchain technology to store and transfer digital tokens. It will be backed by their respective currencies.

    According to reports, the proposal has come from Russia, a leading member of the group as it seeks to convince other members to build an alternative platform for international payments that would be immune to the hegemony of the West.

    The purpose of having BRICS currency is to ensure safe and secure transactions among this group of emerging economies while also bypassing the United States (US) dollar. Russian President Vladimir Putin sees it as a solution to increasing problems in settling trade payments.

    Putin, in his address, also highlighted that new economic opportunities will be created by integrating digital currencies not only for BRICS nations but also for other developing economies.

    This switching of traded currency is part of BRICS’ long-term goals, which are to evade the dependence on the US dollar in international trade and solidify the economic cooperation among emerging markets of BRICS.

    The final Kazan declaration of BRICS 2024 also stated, “We recognise the widespread benefits of faster, low cost, more efficient, transparent, safe and inclusive cross-border payment instruments built upon the principle of minimizing trade barriers and non-discriminatory access. We welcome the use of local currencies in financial transactions between BRICS countries and their trading partners.”

    While experts believe the BRICS cryptocurrency model might not be feasible, there also are concerns that non-Chinese members might increase their dependence on China’s yuan instead, leading to a rift between Beijing and Moscow.

    Notably, there have been talks of the potential launch of a Yuan-backed stablecoin as well.

    Except for India, Pakistan shares good relations with all BRICS countries and has already been trading with China in Yuan. According to a Profit report, Pakistan and China’s Yuan trade increased to over 14 per cent in 2023, up from just two per cent in 2018.

    While cryptocurrency remains an alien phenomenon in the economic corridors of Pakistan, the launch of such a currency could certainly open new trade avenues. This, however, is subject to approval for Pakistan’s inclusion in BRICS.

    With Pakistan making a formal request to join BRICS in 2023, all eyes were on the summit to find out if Islamabad’s bid would be accepted this year. Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei also expressed his support to Pakistan’s membership of BRICS during his visit to Islamabad in September.

    Foreign relations experts deemed India as a big hurdle in this process but chances became bright when reports from across the border suggested that India will give a nod to this inclusion. “One of the key takeaways of the summit is likely to be India’s green signal to Pakistan’s long-pending bid for membership in the bloc,” ABP Live reported.

    The BRICS alliance has already expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

    After Pakistan’s application for membership in August 2023, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have also formally applied to become members, while a few others also showed interest in joining.

    During the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India’s support for the inclusion of new countries into the bloc. He said that during his remarks at the Closed Plenary of the 16th BRICS Summit in Russia’s Kazan on October 23.

    He further added that this process should happen only through consensus among all nations. “India is ready to welcome new countries into BRICS as Partner Countries. In this regard, all decisions should be taken by consensus, and the views of BRICS founding members should be respected. The Guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures adopted during the Johannesburg summit, should be complied with by all members and partner countries,” he said.

    While analysts see this as a bid to thwart Pakistan’s inclusion in BRICS, a formal response remains awaited.

  • Justice Mansoor Ali Shah among five judges skip Qazi Faez Isa’s farewell dinner

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah among five judges skip Qazi Faez Isa’s farewell dinner

    Five Supreme Court judges have skipped Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa’s farewell reception, including senior puisne Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah.

    The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) hosted the dinner on Thursday night on the eve of CJP Isa’s retirement on October 25.

    Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Shahid Waheed, along with Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, remain absent at the reception of Qazi Faez Isa.

    However, Justice Yahya Khan Afridi, Justice Musarrat Hilali, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Aqeel Abbasi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan attended the dinner.

    Chief Justice of Lahore High Court (LHC) and Islamabad High Court (IHC) were also among the attendees of Chief Justice Pakistan’s reception.

    Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has gone for Umrah along with his family on Wednesday. He was all ready to become the next Chief Justice of Pakistan before the passing of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

    A Special Parliamentary Committee nominated the third senior most judge in the Supreme Court, Yahya Afridi, as the next CJP, and he will take the oath on October 26 (tomorrow).

    As per Dawn News, the next Chief Justice, Yahya Afridi, at his expense, will hold the luncheon in honour of Qazi Faez Isa today (Friday), as CJP Isa had declined the farewell meal at government expense.

  • ‘I have never thought of myself as less than a male actor’, says Anmol Baloch

    ‘I have never thought of myself as less than a male actor’, says Anmol Baloch


     
    In the competitive drama industry where women’s voices are often overlooked, actress Anmol Baloch stands strong, asserting her equality with male costars. 
     
    Recently, Anmol appeared as a guest on Miss Dramatic YouTube channel, where she talked about gender equality in the drama industry.  
     
     The host, Wajiha Jawaid, asked, “In the industry, opportunities are given to speak when male actors receive more preference, while female actresses do not get the same. There is something like this in our industry?”  
     
     Anmol replied, “I have never thought of myself as lesser than a male actor, I have never felt that way, because I think it’s about how you perceive yourself, how you want to present yourself, how you want to feel about yourself, and where you want to see yourself.” 
     
     Baloch shared about how she handles differences with producers and the team by focusing on open communication to reach an agreement.
     
     “So, I have never felt that way, and I have always put my point across in front of the producer, on the table, in front of the director, on the table. And I have never hesitated in these things, thinking that I shouldn’t say something or that I shouldn’t speak up. So, for me, it’s unacceptable to feel less than anyone in any way”, the Jalti Barish actress added.
     
      
    The host again asked, “Now, you see, do you watch these drama reviews that have become quite common nowadays? Have you seen the reviews of Iqtidar drama?”  
     
     Baloch said, “There are both good and bad things, I take them very positively, but it’s their point of view, and it’s the critics’ job. If they find something wrong, it’s obvious they will talk about it, it’s their right.” The Aur Sitam Aur actress reflected on the reviews and how they impact her as an actor saying, “As an actor, I see what I can learn from them and how I can avoid making the same mistakes in my next project that are happening here. But sometimes, it gets a little too much, and I get a bit emotional, thinking, why did they say that? But somehow, in the end, you realize it’s their point of view because they are not writing from the actor’s perspective; they see different shades of life. The shade we are showing on screen is just one aspect of that character, not the others. So sometimes there is a misunderstanding, but what happens is that after six or ten episodes, you feel that yes, that was right there, so it was okay. That’s why I let it go; when the time comes, then we will see.”


    Anmol has starred in dramas such as Bedardi Saiyaan, Aik Larki Aam Si, Noor, and Shiddat, and currently, she is starring in Iqtidar along with Ali Raza on Green Entertainment. It is written by Hina Huma Nafees and directed by Fahim Burney.

  • Jason Gillespie makes bold new claim for Babar Azam

    Jason Gillespie makes bold new claim for Babar Azam

    Jason Gillespie, the head coach of the national cricket team, had made a bold new claim for former skipper Babar Azam.

    While giving an interview with foreign media, he said, “Babar Azam is the best player; bad times come to big players. He will return to form soon and win matches.

    Talking about red ball captain Shan Masood, he said, “Shan was given the captaincy in Australia, which was a tough tour; his behaviour with the players is very good.”

    “I knew that coaching in Pakistan would be challenging, but coaching here is different from past experiences. I am learning every day about adjusting to Pakistan cricket and trying to understand the environment of Pakistan cricket. When the coaching offer came, I was told that there are long-term plans for Pakistan”, he further added.

    Earlier, the spinner of the national cricket team, Sajid Khan, told the plan made regarding the Rawalpindi test against England.

    He said, “The credit for making the pitch goes to the selection committee. The ball spun in the first 30 overs in the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, but the England batters also played the wrong shots. I don’t have ‘Doosra’, so I tried to change the pace; the focus is on the first innings, and I am not thinking about the second innings.”

    Sajid took six wickets in the first innings of the 2nd Test against England.

    The English team was bowled out for 267 on the first day of the Pindi Test.

  • Why this Indian woman cricketer is being called ‘female Muhammad Rizwan’?

    Why this Indian woman cricketer is being called ‘female Muhammad Rizwan’?

    Indian women’s team cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues is being called the female version of Pakistani wicket-keeper batsman Muhammad Rizwan, according to Indian journalist Shubhankar Mishra.

    Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said, “People are calling Jemimah the Indian female version of Pakistan cricketer Muhammar Rizwan.”

    Background of the story:

    One of Mumbai’s oldest clubs, Khar Gymkhana, has cancelled the membership of Indian women’s cricket star Jemimah Rodrigues. Some members of the Gymkhana alleged that her father, Ivan Rodrigues, organised religious conversion activities there.

    This decision was made during the club’s annual general body meeting on October 20, 2024. Members were concerned about the club’s premises being used for religious gatherings.

    According to The Indian Express, Ivan organised around 35 gatherings under the name Brother Manuel Ministries over 18 months in the club’s presidential hall, which led to objections from some club members who claimed these events aimed to convert “vulnerable” individuals.

    “We hear about conversions all over the country, but it’s happening right under our nose… As per Khar Gymkhana’s by-laws, no religious activity is permitted”, Shiv Malhotra, a member of the club’s managing committee, said.

    Former Gymkhana president Nitin Gadekar stated that he had seen such activities at the club for some time. Following these events, the club decided to revoke Jemimah Rodrigues’ three-year membership, which was granted in 2023.

    The initial membership grant had made her the first Indian female cricketer to join the club, and in 2023, Khar Gymkhana invited Rodrigues to use its facilities.

    The allegations surface at a crucial time in her cricket career, as she is preparing to represent India in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.

    Why is she called the female version of Muhammad Rizwan?

    In December 2023, a video of the Pakistan cricket team’s wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan making a speech in a mosque in Melbourne, Australia, went viral. According to the viral video on social media, after arriving in Melbourne, wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan went to a mosque to give a speech.

    “I believe that a human being is a brand ambassador of two things. If a person is a Muslim, they represent Islam wherever they go. The second thing is that they are Pakistan’s brand ambassador. It doesn’t matter what anyone says,” he said.

    Rizwan has since been criticised by some social media users, including national cricketer Ahmed Shehzad. At the same time, most fans supported him for spreading peaceful religion in the world.

  • Russia’s BRICS Currency Summit 2024: Big Replacing the US Dollar?

    Russia’s BRICS Currency Summit 2024: Big Replacing the US Dollar?

    The summit is set to be attended by presidents from two dozen nations. In their opinion, this is the most significant event Russia has held for many years and is a message to the West amid wars in Ukraine. The annual BRICS currency summit began on Tuesday and is being held in Kazan, Russian President Putin’s hometown.

    The three-night conclave will be Russia’s largest gathering of world leaders in over two decades. Moreover, it comes at a time when the Kreim is embroiled in a war on Ukraine backed by Western nations.

    What is BRICS?

    BRICS globally refers to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

    The group started in 2006, and Brazil, Russia, India, and China convened for the first BRIC summit in 2009. A year later, South Africa was included as well. The alliance’s aim is to counteract the West’s economic and political monopoly. The group sets priorities and has discussions once every year during the ensuree summit, which all members host in turn.

    In 2023, BRICS reached the international forum to call Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates after they applied to join the club. So far, Saudi Arabia transfers have grown formally; the others have been achieved.

    New BRICS Currency

    No announcement was made about launching a new BRIC currency at the 2023 BRICS summit. It was hosted in South Africa; however, this topic has been debated for a long time in several BRICS forums. In the BRICS, diverse local currencies hinder smooth trade among member states. Except for Russia, all current members possess separate local currencies. It is rational to have a single currency for trade and other reasons.

    BRIC currency

    Read Also: SCO SUMMIT 2024: Pakistan Ready to Lead the Regional Unity

    When Will Brics Currency Be Released?

    There were speculations that this new Brics nations currency would be launched at the next conference of BRICS, scheduled for 2024. Still, during an interview, former Russian diplomat Yury Ushakov opened up on the issue of BRIC currency. He presented for discussion BRICS Pay, which is a payment system built around blockchain technology, though BRICS has not officially launched it. 

    The BRICS nations, particularly China, have been on a gold-buying spree. Therefore, there is speculation that the BRICS currency will be gold-backed. This common nations currency will facilitate international trade and transactions and be usable by national and domestic businesses.

    Is the U.S. Dollar In Trouble?

    For the first time, BRICS leaders have expressed their intentions to use more national currencies than the dollar. Since last year, Brics nations currency value has increased due to the Fed’s interest rate hikes and the Russia-Ukraine war, which made dollar debt and numerous imports expensive.

    On the 22nd of February, when it became clear that Russia would be sanctioned, people began to wonder whether the East would move away from the dollar.

    “The momentum of the de-dollarization process, which is systemic due to the current development, has been getting faster,” Putin said at the summit on Tuesday.

    The dollar remains the primary currency for most international trade. As of 2017, 88% of all global currency trade involved the dollar, as evidenced by the Bank of International Settlements Data.

    The shift towards de-dollarization is not simple. It necessitates the compliance and independent decisions of every currency trader, lender, and borrower from nations across the globe to transition to another currency. The potential impact of this transition cannot be overstated.

    What’s Next For BRICS Nations Currency

    South American countries expressed interest in joining the “BRICS” countries, not Southeast countries. Russia made a case for Southeast Asian countries to join BRICS. A little later, Turkish President Erdogan met with President Xi Jinping and remarked about Turkey’s interest in joining BRICS. However, it’s been months since we last heard of Indonesia, the Philippines, or other Southeast Asian nations making formal requests to join the bloc.

  • Chahat Fateh Ali Khan grabs Karan Johar’s attention; offers to work for free

    Chahat Fateh Ali Khan grabs Karan Johar’s attention; offers to work for free

    Singer Chahat Fateh Ali, known for his quirky singing on social media, has sent a message to Indian filmmaker Karan Johar.

    Recently, he released the song ‘Toba Toba,’ a rendition of the popular Bollywood song ‘Tauba Tauba,’ originally sung by renowned Indian singer Karan Aujla.
    This song was filmed by Vicky Kaushal in Bollywood and became very popular on the internet due to his dance moves.

    In response, Karan Johar recommended everyone watch the rendition.

    On Instagram, Chahat Fateh Ali posted a video addressing Karan Johar, saying:

    “Assalam o Alaikum. Karoron dilon ki jaan, Chahat Fateh Ali, all the way from London. Today’s special message is for Sir Karan Johar. Sir, first of all, happy birthday to you. May Allah grant you a long life of 120 years. Karan Johar Sahib, I am deeply grateful that you appreciated my talent, acting, and singing. Thank you very much. You are a producer, singer, actor, model, and, in fact, a kingmaker.

    It is my great fortune that you liked my work. I haven’t slept for three nights just thinking about your appreciation. Thank you, sir, thank you very much. It would be a great honor for me to work in one of your films for free if you give me the opportunity. Thank you, sir, thank you very much.”

  • Experts predict two per cent rate cut as inflation plummets to 44-month low

    Experts predict two per cent rate cut as inflation plummets to 44-month low

    Business owners look towards the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to cut interest rates yet again as the inflation rate reached a low of 6.9 per cent in September 2024. The interest rate is expected to fall around two per cent to 15.5 per cent – the lowest in around four years.

    The SBP, like other national central banks, uses the interest rate as a tool to control the inflation rate. With annual inflation rates touching 29.18 per cent in 2023, the SBP set an interest rate of 22 per cent to maintain skyrocketing price levels.

    With inflation rates touching a 44-month low, however, economic experts believe that the state bank will reduce the policy rate.

    Recently, inflation rates have been dropping steadily and September’s sharp decline of 28 per cent in the monthly inflation rate is proof of just that. This is certainly good news for businesses that have been affected by high inflation rates.

    This is because they had been suffering from having to pay extortionate “menu costs”. Menu cost refers to the expense a business has to pay to order new price tags, put up new billboards, and as the name suggests, print new menus.

    Aside from these costs, the previous year saw a slowdown in sales as customers experienced a “sticker shock” factor every time they found out that prices had increased. However, with inflation rates expected to fall to as low as six per cent in October, businesses are expected to recover even faster than last year’s surge in inflation.

    This expected drop in interest rates is likely to spell great news for businesses. This is because investors who had their money parked in savings accounts in banks will find it more profitable to invest in actual businesses.

    This will create a huge shift in funds from savings accounts to business projects.

    For reference, the average return to the sugar industry, considered to be extremely profitable, in 2023 was 18 per cent while interest rates sat at over 20%. A rational businessman would not forgo a risk-free return in favour of a risky investment that has a lower return.

    With interest rates projected to drop to 15.5 per cent, however, a shift in funds will likely be seen from banks to businesses.

    Moreover, the PSX (Pakistan Stock Exchange) has seen an incredible year, sitting at just under 89,000 points. Increased investor confidence is likely to continue with dropping interest rates as more money will pour into the stock exchange from banks.

    Aside from the increase in projected investment levels by external investors, business owners will probably be more inclined to finance projects using debt if interest rates drop. This is because they will know that they now have to pay much lower interest payments if they borrow money.

    Likewise, consumers might also take up these cheaper loans to buy items from businesses – increasing the sales of business owners. If SBP slashes interest rates, businesses are set to profit enormously.

  • Foreign exchange reserves surge $18 million in a week

    Foreign exchange reserves surge $18 million in a week

    Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have witnessed a slight increase of $18 million in one week.

    The latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) shows that this increase was witnessed in the week ending on October 18, which has pushed the central bank-held reserves to 11.04 billion.

    Total reserves held by the country dropped by more than $94 million to $16.02 billion on a weekly basis.

    The reason behind this reduction can be attributed to the commercial bank holdings, which dropped 2.20 per cent, or $112.2 million, to $4.98 billion in the week under review.

    This fiscal year, the reserves held by the SBP have increased approximately 34 per cent, or $2.82 billion.

    During the same period, the Pakistani rupee has remained largely unchanged against the US dollar, apart from minor gains and losses of a few paisas. 

    As of today, the PKR stands at Rs277.84 per US dollar, while one British Pound holds a value of Rs360 against the Pakistani currency.