Current Final

Blog

  • Gold prices in Pakistan kick off 2024 with decline, hitting Rs219,700 per tola

    Gold prices in Pakistan kick off 2024 with decline, hitting Rs219,700 per tola

    On the inaugural day of 2024, gold prices experienced a downturn in Pakistan.

    The precious metal, colloquially referred to as the yellow metal, was valued at Rs219,700 per tola following a decline of Rs300 in Pakistani gold market on Monday. 

    In terms of 10 grammes, gold was traded at Rs188,357, reflecting a decrease of Rs258, as reported by the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). 

    Notably, this came after a Rs900 per tola decrease in gold prices on the preceding Saturday.

    Concurrently, the global gold rate exhibited stability at $2,082 per ounce on Monday, with an additional $20 premium per ounce, according to APGJSA. 

    In the realm of silver, rates held steady at Rs2,680 per tola in Pakistan.

  • ‘It’s my great honour to be called Daughter of Buner’: Dr. Sawera Prakash on Indian TV

    ‘It’s my great honour to be called Daughter of Buner’: Dr. Sawera Prakash on Indian TV

    Dr. Sawera Prakash, the first Hindu woman to contest general elections from Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, recently appeared on a talk show on an Indian TV channel and amazed the host with her honesty and confidence.


    She was asked by host Sudhir Chaudhary of Aaj Tak TV about whether Muslim voters in Pakistan will ever vote for a Hindu woman to which Miss Prakash replied that she fully believes that. “The positive response I have been receiving has exceeded my expectations.” She asserted that she has never felt discriminated against, neither as a minority nor as a woman, during her campaign. Upon this the interviewer told her that it feels like she has embraced Pakistan like no other, even though she is a Hindu. Sawera promptly reminded him she was born in Pakistan and being a citizen, she is a patriot. She especially mentioned that she has been given the title of “Daughter of Buner” and this makes her responsible towards not just her district but her country as well.

    Sudhir Chaudhary however kept on trying to rattle the calm Dr. Prakash, asking her about the situation of minorities in Pakistan. He quoted disgraced former cricketer Danesh Kanaria who has said that he could not flourish because of his minority status. Miss Prakash vehemently denied that by saying that she is getting support from people of her district, an area which is traditionally conservative yet they own her. Punjab and Sindh must be more open towards minorities, she implied.


    Towards the end, the interviewer asked her about Ram Mandir which is about to be opened in Ayodhya, India, built on the site of Babri Masjid, and whether she would come to visit. Dr. Sawera answered that she has never thought about it.

  • PSX starts 2024 with 1,554 points surge in KSE-100 index

    PSX starts 2024 with 1,554 points surge in KSE-100 index

    The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) commenced the year 2024 on a positive note, witnessing a noteworthy surge in its key benchmark, the KSE-100 index.

    The index exhibited a robust increase of 1,554.63 points, or 2.49 per cent, reaching 63,839.67 during the morning trading session.

    This promising start follows a remarkable performance in 2023, where the KSE-100 index recorded a substantial gain of 54.5 per cent, marking the highest yearly return since 2009.

    Concluding the previous year at 62,451 points, the index gained 21,632 points and earned the distinction of being the fourth best-performing stock market in 2023.

    During Monday’s session, the KSE-100 index found support from key sectors, with oil and gas exploration companies contributing 398.36 points, commercial banks adding 395.29 points, the fertiliser sector contributing 130.32 points, oil and gas marketing companies with 109.21 points, and power generation and distribution contributing 109.02 points.

    Noteworthy companies driving the index upwards include PPL with 172.23 points, OGDC with 162.5 points, HUBC with 84.59 points, UBL with 82.81 points, and MCB with 77.46 points.

    In the broader market context, the All-Share index is trading at 42,803.03, reflecting a net gain of 886.75 points.

    It’s important to note that this information is based on an intraday update, capturing the current dynamics of the market.

  • Faisal Qureshi wants Indian films screened in Pakistan

    Faisal Qureshi wants Indian films screened in Pakistan

    Actor Faysal Quraishi wants to restore the splendor of Pakistani cinema but has an unusual plan to do so.

    In an interview the veteran performer gave to Independent Urdu, he talked about the film industry in Pakistan and how it can be revived.
    “I am a very patriotic person,” he said. However, he emphasized that to make Pakistani cinema thrive, it’s crucial to screen Bollywood films in theaters. “I know that our people want to watch Bollywood movies in Pakistan, so we cannot impose our will on them.”

    The actor mused about building good relationships with India, stating that, “We got a great opportunity to work in India. However, due to political tensions and conflicts, those paths closed, and we often shut down routes that bring money to our country.”

  • ECP rejects nomination papers of Dr Ammar Ali Jan

    ECP rejects nomination papers of Dr Ammar Ali Jan

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has on Saturday rejected the nomination papers of the leader of the Haqooq-e-Khalq Party (HKP), Dr Ammar Ali Jan, from PP 160 Lahore.

    The HKP leader and well-known activist claimed that all his documents were cleared during the scrutiny process, but unknown forces intervened.

    He also said in one of his tweets on X (previously Twitter): “My nomination papers for PP160 have been rejected by ECP. All documents were cleared during the scrutiny process, but invisible forces intervened later. We will go to High Court and have this decision reversed. The selection process will fail, and democracy will prevail.”

    He also wrote on X that HKP staged a historical rally at Shanghai Bridge on Sunday, alleging that police threatened HKP workers and tried to disperse the gathering.

    Dr Ammar Ali Jan is a known teacher and activist who leads social work in underprivileged localities of Lahore. During Imran Khan’s government, he was a leading critical voice, subjected to targeted harassment by the police.

  • Indian women athletes return medals to govt in protest against sexual harassment

    Indian women athletes return medals to govt in protest against sexual harassment

    A number of female athletes, including female wrestlers, have returned their medals to the Indian government in protest against sexual harassment.

    India’s famous female wrestler Vinesh Phogat left two valuable awards on the roadside after not being allowed to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Phogat and several other female wrestlers have accused former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing female wrestlers for years. Vinesh Phogat won medals in the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games.

    Photo: Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan

    A large number of athletes, including female wrestlers, also protested, but they were lathi-charged by the police and several people were arrested.

  • Heavy penalties on traffic violations to be imposed from today

    Heavy penalties on traffic violations to be imposed from today

    Drivers violating traffic rules on motorways and national highways will pay a heavy price for transgressions from today (January 1).

    National Highways and Motorway Police have revised fines, applicable from January 1.


    As per the details released by NHMP, the fines range from Rs. 750 to Rs. 3000 for covering the backscreen partially or completely and not following the stop-line protocols respectively.

    The details of the rest of the fines are in the tweet below:

  • Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s convoy attacked in DI Khan

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s convoy attacked in DI Khan

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s convoy came under attack in Dera Ismail Khan on Sunday.

    The politician’s convoy was fired from multiple directions at the Yarik Interchange, the party’s spokesperson, Mufti Abrar, told Geo News on Sunday, adding that the attack took place while the vehicles were passing through the DI Khan area.

    He also confirmed that Maulana Fazlur Rehman is safe.

    Fazlur Rehman’s brother, however, denied the attack on the party chief, claiming that Maulana was at home when the incident happened.

    “Maulana’s car stopped for refueling near the Yarik interchange [when the incident happened],” he added.

    Maulana has expressed concerns many times about security issues in the DI Khan area. He also said on December 5 that “There is no police in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Lakki Marwat. Can the polls be staged in this situation of unrest?”

    Earlier this week, Fazl had warned that his party will hold Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja responsible if party workers came under attack during electioneering.

  • Israeli soldiers getting infected with parasitic skin disease

    Israeli soldiers getting infected with parasitic skin disease

    Israeli newspapers have reported that dozens of Israeli soldiers serving near Gaza border are suspected to have been infected by a skin disease known as leishmaniasis.

    Anadolu Agency quotes Israeli newspaper Maariv stating that the infection results in skin lesions caused by the Leishmania parasite which leads to Rose of Jericho disease (leishmaniasis) because they have “ulcerative skin lesions”.

    The parasite is transmitted through a fly’s bite which results in an “inflamed and painful lesion that does not heal”. They are, however, not life-threatening, Anadolu Agency quotes an expert.

    According to an Israeli army spokesman: “Various actions to prevent Leishmania infection among the soldiers are (being) taken in various units.”

    “Explanatory sheets on the subject and mosquito repellent preparations were distributed to soldiers in field units,” the spokesman said.

    “All patients who suffer from suspicious symptoms are examined by a military dermatologist, receive appropriate treatment and are referred to a dedicated leishmania clinic as needed,” he added.

  • David Warner retiring from ODI cricket

    David Warner retiring from ODI cricket

    Australian cricket team opener David Warner has announced his retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket after bidding farewell to Test cricket.

    Warner, the opening batsman of the Australian team, said in a press conference “I am taking retirement minutes from ODI cricket as well, I will be available to Australia in the T20 format.”

    Warner, star of many of Australia’s stellar victories, will play the last Test of his career against Pakistan in Sydney.