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  • Shahid Afridi wants Babar Azam to lead team on Australia tour

    Shahid Afridi wants Babar Azam to lead team on Australia tour

    Former captain of the national cricket team Shahid Afridi has said that Babar Azam should lead the team on the tour of Australia scheduled to begin in December.

    Speaking at the event in Karachi, Shahid Afridi said “We have time to decide, I had a lot of hope from this team, we did not perform according to our skills. You need to work on grassroots cricket. Babar Azam should lead the tour of Australia, in big events you have to take the pressure, if you make so many mistakes then you can’t win.”

    Former captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif said that the country had focused on T20 cricket for a long time, playing fewer Tests and less first-class cricket.

    Rashid Latif said, “Our fast bowlers did not bowl well in the World Cup. If the spinners were good, the result could have been different. Not only the players but the management should also be questioned”.

  • South Asia worst in world for water scarcity: UN

    South Asia worst in world for water scarcity: UN

    New Delhi (AFP) – More children in South Asia are struggling due to severe water scarcity made worse by the impacts of climate change than anywhere else worldwide, the United Nations said Monday.

    “A staggering 347 million children under 18 are exposed to high or extremely high water scarcity in South Asia, the highest number among all regions in the world,” the UN children’s agency said in a report.

    The eight-nation region, comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is home to more than one-quarter of the world’s children.

    “Climate change is disrupting weather patterns and rainfall, leading to unpredictable water availability,” the UN said in its report.

    The report cites poor water quality, lack of water and mismanagement such as over-pumping of aquifers, while climate change decreases the amount of water replenishing them.

    “When village wells go dry, homes, health centres and schools are all affected,” UNICEF added.

    “With an increasingly unpredictable climate, water scarcity is expected to become worse for children in South Asia.”

    At the UN COP28 climate conference in December in Dubai, UNICEF said it will call for leaders “to secure a livable planet”.

    “Safe water is a basic human right,” said Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF chief for South Asia.

    “Yet millions of children in South Asia don’t have enough to drink in a region plagued by floods, droughts and other extreme weather events, triggered increasingly by climate change”.

    Last year, 45 million children lacked access to basic drinking water services in South Asia, more than any other region, but UNICEF said services were expanding rapidly, with that number slated to be halved by 2030.

    Behind South Asia was Eastern and Southern Africa, where 130 million children are at risk from severe water scarcity, the report added.

  • Pakistan expects positive outcome in talks with IMF, eyes $700 million disbursement

    Pakistan expects positive outcome in talks with IMF, eyes $700 million disbursement

    Pakistan is optimistic about the successful completion of the initial review under the $3 billion standby arrangement (SBA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

    According to reports, the ongoing negotiations, now in their final phase, are anticipated to culminate positively, marking a crucial milestone. 

    Commencing on Monday, policy-level discussions between Pakistani authorities and the IMF are scheduled to persist until November 15, spearheaded by Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar.  

    The Pakistani delegation, including key figures such as State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad and Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwan, along with representatives from the finance and energy ministries, has been actively engaged in the deliberations. Nathan Porter leads the IMF team in this dialogue. 

    During the latest session, the IMF delegation articulated their recommendations and requirements, while technical-level talks involved the sharing of pertinent economic data with the international lender’s team, according to The News.  

    Sources within the finance ministry assert that Pakistan has diligently fulfilled all stipulated conditions set forth by the IMF. 

    It is anticipated that the staff-level agreement will be finalised during the ongoing policy-level talks, paving the way for the disbursement of approximately $700 million to Pakistan upon the successful completion of the first review. 

    Earlier this month, the IMF review mission commended the Pakistani government for its commendable progress towards economic recovery, as stated by the finance ministry.  

    The IMF’s $3 billion loan programme, sanctioned in July, played a pivotal role in averting a sovereign debt default. The initial tranche of $1.2 billion was disbursed in July, with the remaining amount contingent on subsequent reviews. 

    Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar has unequivocally ruled out any requests to the IMF for an extension of the SBA programme’s timeframe or an increase in its size. 

  • Govt expected to hike petrol price on Thursday

    Govt expected to hike petrol price on Thursday

    In the final fortnight of November 2023, the per litre price of petrol in Pakistan is projected to experience an increase of Rs3.18, while high-speed diesel (HSD) is anticipated to undergo a reduction of Rs8.30 per litre on Thursday, November 16.


    Sources have indicated that the pricing trajectory of petroleum products is poised for a mixed trend in the latter half of the current month of November 2023.


    The price of petrol is forecasted to rise from Rs283.38 per litre to Rs286.56 per litre, marking an uptick of Rs3.18 per litre.


    Correspondingly, the cost of HSD/diesel is expected to decrease by Rs8.30 per litre, moving from Rs303.18 per litre to Rs 294.88 per litre.


    Additionally, the price of kerosene oil is projected to witness a decline of Rs5.61 per litre, transitioning from Rs211.03 per litre to Rs205.42 per litre.


    Furthermore, the price of light diesel oil (LDO) is set to experience a reduction of Rs8.33 per litre, shifting from Rs189.46 per litre to Rs181.13 per litre.


    These price adjustments are calculated based on current government taxes and the prevailing US dollar exchange rate, as per informed sources.

    According to Profit, the government may uphold the price of petrol due to outstanding forex adjustments, while a reduction of Rs10 per litre is expected for diesel (HSD).


    Notably, starting from 1st November 2023, the government has imposed a petroleum levy (PL) of Rs60 per litre on petrol and diesel, alongside receiving an Inland Freight Equalization Margin (IFEM) of Rs7.71 per litre on petrol and Rs0.60 per litre on diesel.


    Additionally, the Dealers’ Margin (inclusive of extra margin) on petrol and diesel presently stands at Rs8.64 per litre.


    Similarly, the margin for Oil Marketing Companies is fixed at Rs7.87 per litre.


    Furthermore, the Distributors’ Margin (inclusive of extra margin) on diesel is currently set at Rs8.12 per litre, and on petrol, it is Rs7.87 per litre, effective from 1st November 2023.


    On 1st November, the government maintained the prices of petrol and diesel at Rs283.38 per litre and Rs303.18 per litre, respectively.


    Simultaneously, the price of kerosene oil witnessed a reduction of Rs3.82 per litre, establishing the new price at Rs211.03 per litre.


    The price of LDO was also decreased by Rs3.40 per litre, fixing the new price of LDO at Rs189.46 per litre for the first half of November 2023.

  • Anti-power theft measures lead to Rs46 billion in recoveries

    Anti-power theft measures lead to Rs46 billion in recoveries

    The government’s unyielding efforts against power theft have produced significant results, surpassing Rs46 billion in recoveries, as announced by Rashid Langrial, Secretary Power Division, Government of Pakistan, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).


    It’s noteworthy that the anti-power theft campaign commenced on September 7, and the reported outcomes cover the period up to October 31.


    Langrial highlighted the government’s commitment, stating that they have undertaken unprecedented measures, including reshuffling, suspending, prosecuting, and even arresting their own staff.


    Approximately 470 individuals per day have been detained, marking a substantial increase in the rate of apprehension.


    The Secretary highlighted the government’s determination to eliminate external influences, thanks to the unwavering support of the Prime Minister, the Minister-in-Charge, and other segments of state power.


    While revealing the results for the initial two months (53 days), Langrial underscored the importance of placing the figures in context.

    The estimated annual losses across the national grid for the current year stand at Rs589 billion. Notably, around Rs199 billion of these losses are attributed to ex-FATA, Baluchistan tube wells, and AJK.

    However, Langrial clarified that these specific areas are not the primary focus of the campaign due to their unique circumstances. AJK, for instance, handles its own bills but disputes payments on contractual grounds.

    Ex-FATA, exempted from metres due to a policy of appeasement post-integration, and Baluchistan tube wells face enforcement challenges, among other factors.

    Langrial disclosed that efforts are concentrated on the remaining problem space of Rs390 billion, of which Rs46 billion has been recovered in 53 days, averaging Rs867 million per day.
    He cautiously acknowledged that maintaining

    the same level of state support and field effort is crucial for resolving 80 per cent of the problem space, albeit with some uncertainty.

  • Pakistan’s stock market surges above 56,500 for the first time in history

    Pakistan’s stock market surges above 56,500 for the first time in history

    The bullish momentum persisted in the Pakistan stock market today, propelling the key stock gauge to an unprecedented level above 56,000 for the first time in history.

    By the session’s close, the index had reached a historic high of 56,523.58, marking an impressive surge of 1,132.21 points, or 2.04 per cent day-on-day. Notably, the KSE-100 index had experienced a notable gain of 2,268.33 points, or 4.27 per cent, in the preceding week.

    Throughout the day, the index remained in positive territory, achieving an intraday high of 56,583.59 (+1,192.22) and a low of 55,644.68 (+253.31) points. The KSE-100 Index witnessed a total volume of 300.341 million shares traded.

    The prevailing positive sentiment is attributed to the recent PIB auction on November 8, which exhibited a substantial decline in yields.

    This decline may indicate market expectations of an earlier-than-anticipated reduction in interest rates.

    Additionally, investors are anticipating a higher weighting for Pakistan in the upcoming review by global index provider Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), scheduled for tomorrow.

    In today’s session, out of the 100 index companies, 57 closed higher, 23 closed lower, 1 remained unchanged, and 19 were untraded.

    The strength of the KSE-100 index was supported by sectors such as power generation and distribution, fertiliser, commercial banks, cement, and automobile assembly.

    Contributing positively to the index were companies like HUBC, EFERT, MTL, BAHL, and MCB, accumulating significant points.

    On the other hand, the KSE-100 Index faced a downturn primarily due to the refinery sector, Inv. Banks/Inv. Cos./Securities Cos., Transport, Leather & Tanneries, and Automobile Parts & Accessories.

    Companies exerting downward pressure on the index included MEBL, UPFL, KEL, OGDC, and NATF. The intricate dynamics of today’s market underscore the varied performances across different sectors and companies within the KSE-100 Index.

  • Arrest warrants issued for Imran Khan in two more cases

    Arrest warrants issued for Imran Khan in two more cases

    An Accountability Court in Islamabad on Monday issued arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in cases pertaining to the Toshakhana and 190-million-pound Al-Qadir Trust. 

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed an application to comply with the arrest warrants of Chairman PTI.

    Judge Mohammad Bashir conducted the hearing on the two cases where NABfiled an application seeking Khan’s arrest warrants.

    Judge Bashir approved the issuance of the warrants while directing the jail superintendent to take measures to ensure the warrants were complied with.

    Deputy Prosecutor General NAB Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, Prosecutor Irfan Bhola, Investigation Officers Mohsin, Waqarul Hasan, Mian Umar Nadeem, and others appeared before the court.

    The court asked the prosecutor what the High Court did in these cases.

    To which the prosecutor replied that the matter was pending, mentioning that the court neither suspended the order nor issued a standing order.

    The warrants are expected to be complied with in jail today. Imran Khan will be provided with a copy of the warrant as well as briefed about the reasons for his arrest.

    Sources said that the NAB has decided to immediately arrest Khan after the issuance of his arrest warrants, as per Aaj News.

    The anti-graft body is likely to arrest the PTI chief today from Adiala jail where a team including investigation officers of the Bureau will arrive to ensure compliance with the warrants, they added.

    The former prime minister is currently being held in Adiala jail after his arrest from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on August 5.

    He was moved to the prison on September 26 from Attock jail where he was initially kept after his arrest.

    Bushra Bibi in trouble

    Earlier today, former First Lady Bushra Bibi was summoned by NAB in a £190 million case, and as per media reports her arrest could be on the cards.

    Bushra was summoned at 2 pm to the NAB office in G-6 in Islamabad. Farhat Shahzadi, alias Farah Gogi, a former close aide of Bushra, has also been summoned in the same case today.

    Moreover, NAB also provided Bushra Bibi with an 11-point questionnaire in the Al-Qadir Trust case. 

    During her appearance in the NAB office, Bushra Bibi was questioned about Farah Gogi.

    The questionnaire given to her also included queries about her relations with Farah Gogi, the reasons for creating Al-Qadir Trust, whether she took any courses in jurisprudence or pedagogy, whether she continued to receive benefits from Al-Qadir Trust as a teacher, whether she was satisfied with Farah Gogi’s financial affairs and if Malik Riaz himself showed interest in Al-Qadir Trust or she contacted him. 

  • Al-Shifa staff unable to bury 100 decomposing bodies: What we know about day 38

    Al-Shifa staff unable to bury 100 decomposing bodies: What we know about day 38

    There are presently around 650 patients, 500 healthcare workers, and an estimated 2,500 displaced people inside al-Shifa Hospital, reports Mohammed Zaqout, director of hospitals in Gaza.

    Al-Shifa staff unable to bury 100 decomposing bodies

    Wafa news agency has reported that according to Gaza’s Minister of Health Mai al-Kaila, the staff of Al-Shifa Hospital are not able to bury the remains of at least 100 people who were killed in recent days as Israel continued its attacks in Gaza.

    hospital workers also have to deal with increasing medical waste accumulation inside the hospital compound. Now, Al-Shifa Hospital is not allowing in new patients, “even as it continues to deal with thousands of refugees who are also taking shelter there”, reports Al Jazeera.

    It has also been revealed that Israeli snipers have been firing at anyone near the hospital.

    At least 32 al-Shifa patients dead

    Over the past three days, at least 32 hospital patients in al-Shifa Hospital have died, claims Palestinian Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al Qidra.

    Among the dead are three premature babies whose incubators were shut off after fuel stocks finished. 

    After the hospital ran out of fuel on Saturday, operations were also suspended.

    Credits: Al Jazeera

  • Babar Azam returns home after World Cup disappointment

    Babar Azam returns home after World Cup disappointment

    After failing to qualify for the cricket World Cup semi-finals, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has returned to Lahore from Dubai via a private airline flight on Sunday. The team manager and other Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials accompanied him.

    On Babar’s arrival at Lahore Airport, fans raised ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans. The squad that left Kolkata for Dubai on Sunday morning included captain Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, and others.

    A second group of 22 members of the team have also left for Dubai from Kolkata, including Shaheen Afridi, Imamul Haq, Salman Agha, Muhammad Nawaz, coaching staff and other players.

    Pakistan failed to make it to the semi-finals of the World Cup after a disappointing string of defeats, losing five out of nine matches of the group stage.

  • ‘I’ll never call her back’: Nida Yasir addresses Rabia Anum walking off her show

    ‘I’ll never call her back’: Nida Yasir addresses Rabia Anum walking off her show

    Television host and actress Nida Yasir was a guest on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast where she opened up about the infamous incident on her show when Rabia Anum walked off her show.

    Anum was invited as a guest on Yasir’s show alongside controversial actor Mohsin Abbas Haider. Rabia won public praise when she announced during the show that she was walking off air to show solidarity with domestic abuse survivors.

    Addressing the incident on Ahmed’s podcast, Nida revealed that the exit was not planned, and she felt humiliated by Rabia’s actions

    “She (Rabia) said she found out in the morning who would be the guest alongside with her on the show. We have one makeup room where all our guests are present so she knew who was arriving. She could have consulted with me in private but she didn’t. She had spoken with my team but not with me because I was on set. She could have taken a stand behind the camera.”

    “As a host it is my job to be respectful to everyone…When there is a guest in front of me I can’t start accusing them of being wife beaters, chalo leave my show. Who am I to say such a thing like this? I am a host so I have to respect everyone.”

    Nida Yasir further elaborated that the incident left her feeling quite insulted, and after Rabia left the show she was never invited back.

    Rabia had addressed the comments in a post on Instagram stories, writing there were bigger issues on this planet to care about than media gossip.