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  • PM Kakar urges rapid privatisation of PIA as flight suspensions loom

    PM Kakar urges rapid privatisation of PIA as flight suspensions loom

    Interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has issued a directive to accelerate the privatisation process of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which has been facing substantial financial losses. This move comes in response to reports suggesting that PIA’s flight operations could be halted by September 15 unless emergency funding is secured. 

    In a recent interview with Geo News, a senior PIA director revealed that the airline had reduced its operational fleet from 23 to just 16 aircraft, resulting in numerous flight cancellations. Additionally, major aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, had suspended the supply of spare parts to PIA due to outstanding payments, causing daily losses amounting to millions of rupees.  

    The dire situation was further exacerbated when a PIA plane was detained at Dammam airport and four others were held at Dubai airport due to unpaid fuel bills. 

    The official cautioned that unless emergency funds amounting to Rs23 billion were secured, flight operations might come to a standstill by September 15. In response to these pressing concerns, Prime Minister Kakar chaired a meeting regarding PIA-related matters and assigned the caretaker Minister for Privatisation, Fawad Hasan Fawad, to oversee the privatisation process with the utmost urgency.  

    The prime minister stressed the need for a swift privatisation process to ensure reliable services for users and to bring PIA’s standards in line with global aviation standards. 

    Furthermore, the prime minister urged all relevant stakeholders to collaborate in finding immediate solutions to the challenges associated with privatization. The meeting also included a briefing on the progress of the privatisation process at PIA. 

    Read more: Islamabad Police launches campaign to catch students bunking school and college 

    According to Geo, PIA has been grappling with severe financial difficulties, including the grounding of five out of its 13 leased aircraft, with the possibility of grounding four more due to ongoing financial constraints. The airline had previously requested an emergency bailout of Rs22.9 billion, which was rejected by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).  

    Additionally, requests for deferring payments of Rs1.3 billion per month to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Rs0.7 billion per month to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were also denied by the ECC.  

    Moreover, PIA had warned of potential disruptions in the supply of spare parts by Boeing and Airbus by mid-September. In a further blow, the FBR froze 13 of PIA’s bank accounts due to unpaid dues totaling Rs8 billion in Federal Excise Duty (FED). 

  • Asia Cup 2023: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by two wickets to reach finals

    Asia Cup 2023: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by two wickets to reach finals

    Sri Lanka beat Pakistan on Thursday by two wickets after a thrilling match of the Super 4 stage of Asia Cup 2023. In the first inning, Pakistan set a total of 252 runs in 42 overs, losing seven wickets in a lackluster performance. Muhammad Rizwan was the top scorer with 86 runs, while Abdullah Shafiq scored 52 runs and Iftikhar Ahmed scored 47 runs.

    Matheesha Pathirana was a key performer from the bowling side, taking three wickets.
    In the second inning, Sri Lanka started aggressively, putting up 11 runs in the first over. The island nation then lost two wickets on 82 runs but after that, Samarwickrama and Kusal Mendis scored a 102-run partnership that helped Sri Lanka successfully chase the total.

    With Sri Lanka needing 12 runs in the last two overs, Shaheen Afridi bowled a stunning over with only 3 runs given. Zaman Khan came to bowl the last over and bowled his 4 balls on good length. Sri Lanka needed six runs on two balls as Aslanka hit a boundary in the slip. Zaman Khan bowled his last ball and Aslanka pushed it to the leg side scored two runs and led the team to victory.

    Sri Lanka will play the final with India in Colombo.

    Live Update:

    SRILANKA179/3 (30 Overs)

    Much needed wicket for Pakistan, Sadeera Samarawickrama caught on fourth ball of 30th over by Iftikhar Ahmed. Sadeera Scored 48 runs.

    SRILANKA81/2 (13.4 Overs)

    Pakistan takes his second wicket as Shadab khan grabs a good catch on his ball. Pathum Nishanka score 29 runs.

    SRILANKA 28/1 (4 Overs)

    First wicket down! What a through by Shadab Khan. Kusal parera run out on 17 runs.

    PAKISTAN 252/6 (42 Overs)

    Asia Cup 2023: Pak vs Sri Lanka

    Rizwan’s batting takes Pakistan to 252/7 in 42 overs

    Pakistan set a total of 252 runs by losing 7 wickets in 42 overs. Muhammad Rizwan was top scorer with 86 runs on 73 balls. Matheesha Pathirana was key performer from bowling side by taking 3 wickets.

    Shadab Khan caught on the second ball of 42nd over by Paramod Madhushan. He scored 3 runs.

    PAKISTAN 242/6 (41 Overs)

    Iftikhar Ahmed caught on fourth ball of 41st over by Matheesha Pathirana. Iftikhar scored 47 runs.

    PAKISTAN 184/5 (35 Overs)

    PAKISTAN 138/5 (30 Overs)

    The match is start with 42 overs per-side.

    Rain in Colombo

    Pakistan-Sri Lanka match was delayed for a bit due to rain in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

    Pakistan is at 130/5 after 27.4 overs.

    PAKISTAN 130/5(27.4 Overs)

    Muhammad Nawaz bowled out on the fourth ball of 28th over by Theekshana. He scored 12 runs on 12 balls.

    PAKISTAN 109/4(25 Overs)

    Muhammad Haris catch out on the last ball of 24th over by Mathesha Pathirana. He scored 3 runs on 9 balls.

    PAKISTAN 100/3 (22 Overs)

    Abdullah Shafiq catch out on the fourth ball 22nd over by Mathesha Pathirana. He scored 52 runs on 69 balls.

    PAKISTAN 88/2(20 Overs)

    PAKISTAN 73/2 (16 Overs)

    Babar azam stumped out on the last ball of 16th over by Dunith Vellalage. Babar scored 29 runs on 35 balls.

    PAKISTAN 72/1 (15 Overs)

    PAKISTAN 40/1 (10 Overs)

    PAKISTAN 27/1 (7.0 Overs)

    Pakistan lost his first wicket as Fakhar zaman bowled out on the second ball of fourth over by Paramod Madhushan. He scored 4 runs on 11 balls.

    Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first.

    The rain has stopped completely and most of the covers are off. The toss will take place at 5:00 PM. This will be a 45 over game each side.

    Toss delayed due to rain.

    Pakistan and Sri Lanka are playing Knock-out match. The winning team will qualify for the final where they will compete against India.

  • Islamabad Police launches campaign to catch students bunking school and college

    Islamabad Police launches campaign to catch students bunking school and college

    Skipping school and college has become more challenging for students in Islamabad, thanks to the Safe City Command and Control Centre’s newly launched ‘School Chalo’ campaign.

    This initiative aims to locate and address students who are found outside of their educational institutions and roaming the streets or markets.

    Safe City cameras recently monitored over twenty students who were absent from school and college, located in entertainment venues, markets, and suburbs. 

    These students were subsequently escorted to police stations and reunited with their parents. Awais Ahmad, Capital Police Officer (CPO) Headquarters, highlighted the importance of students as the nation’s future and assured that Islamabad Capital Police would spare no effort to ensure their bright future.

    The proactive approach taken by Islamabad police in locating truant students and redirecting their focus towards education is commendable.

    This campaign serves as a protective measure for the youth, encouraging them to prioritise their studies and promising a brighter future instead of deceiving their parents.

  • Woman swallows Airpods after mistaking them for this item

    Woman swallows Airpods after mistaking them for this item

    Tanna Barker, a resident of the US, accidentally swallowed one of her Apple Airpods after mistaking it for a vitamin tablet.

    According to Android Authority, she narrated the hilarious story in a TikTok video that went viral.

    She explains in the clip that the incident happened while she was out for a walk with her friend with whom she was having a conversation, and so, she took one of the airpods out of her ear to hear her friend more clearly.

    In between the walk and the talks, a distracted Barker decided to take her vitamins and put one of the airpods in her mouth, realising later that the vitamins were still in her hand.

    “Halfway through my walk, I decided to take my vitamins, so I put my vitamins in, took a drink, and I was like, man, those are stuck,” Barker told.

    “So I guzzled my water, kept on going, said bye to Kathleen, and went to go get my AirPods. And my pills were in my hand. I swallowed my AirPod,” she added.

    She contacted doctors and friends for advice right after. Everyone had one thing to say: let it pass naturally.

    According to Gulf news, a similar incident happened back in 2021 when another American woman gulped down an AirPod assuming it was a vitamin tablet.

    She even tested it after recording a voice note and capturing sounds that her stomach was making.

    A British celebrity, Kirstie Allsopp, also swallowed her AirPod with her vitamins, but she vomited it out instead.

  • How much did Nawaz Sharif tip for his favourite kheer?

    How much did Nawaz Sharif tip for his favourite kheer?

    Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave a GBP 50 tip to a guy for delivering his favourite kheer.

    The unnamed delivery guy said in a video that Nawaz Sharif likes to eat their kheer, a dessert made from rice and milk, which he orders regularly. The delivery man said that the former Premier, who often orders the dessert, gave the man GBP 50 as tip about three weeks ago.

    @murtazaviews

    Nawaz Sharif #fyp #foryoupage #nawazsharif #maryamnawaz #londontiktok #pakistantiktok #pmln #imrankhan

    ♬ original sound – Murtaza Ali Shah
  • Economic crisis: 95 per cent of Pakistanis fear unemployment

    Economic crisis: 95 per cent of Pakistanis fear unemployment

    In Pakistan, 95 per cent of Pakistanis are worried about the possibility of unemployment, while only 5% are confident of job security.

    Apsus Pakistan’s new survey, based on public opinion, says that there has been a clear increase in the rate of Pakistanis claiming to be unemployed in the last one year.

    According to the survey, 95 per cent of Pakistanis are afraid of unemployment due to the country’s economic conditions, while only 5 percent are confident of job security.

    In the survey, 63 per cent said that they, or someone they know, lost their job; and 99 per cent claimed that it was difficult to buy daily necessities, while 99 per cent were not confident about buying a house or a car.

    About 96 per cent of Pakistanis expressed their inability to save and invest to meet their financial needs in the future.

  • State Bank maintains interest rate at 22% as inflation takes a breather 

    State Bank maintains interest rate at 22% as inflation takes a breather 

    The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced its decision to maintain the key policy rate at 22 per cent, as outlined in their official statement released today. 

    The decision to uphold the policy rate at 22 per cent was reached after careful consideration by the MPC, which took into account various economic factors. One of the pivotal factors influencing this decision was the recent trend in inflation.

    In particular, the MPC noted a significant decline in inflation from its peak of 38 per cent in May to 27.4 per cent in August 2023. This trend, coupled with the expectation of a continued downward trajectory in inflation, was a key factor in maintaining the current policy rate. 

    Despite recent increases in global oil prices, which have been passed on to consumers through adjustments in administered energy prices, the MPC remains confident in the outlook for inflation, particularly in the latter half of the year. This optimism is based on several factors, including the positive territory of real interest rates on a forward-looking basis.

    Additionally, the expected alleviation of supply constraints due to improved agricultural output and recent administrative measures against speculative activities in the foreign exchange and commodity markets are anticipated to support a favorable inflation outlook. 

    The MPC also highlighted four noteworthy developments that have occurred since its last meeting in July: 

    1. Improved Agricultural Outlook: The latest data on cotton arrivals, improved input conditions, and satellite data indicating healthy vegetation for other crops have contributed to an improved outlook for agriculture. 

    2. Rising Global Oil Prices: Global oil prices have experienced an upward trajectory and are currently hovering around the $90/barrel level. 

    3. Current Account Deficit: As expected, the current account shifted from surplus to deficit in July, partly attributed to the recent relaxation of import restrictions. 

    4. Positive Regulatory Measures: Recent administrative and regulatory actions aimed at enhancing the availability of essential food commodities and curbing illegal activities in the foreign exchange market have started to yield positive results, narrowing the gap between interbank and open market exchange rates. 

    The SBP’s MPC affirmed its commitment to closely monitoring risks to the inflation outlook and expressed its readiness to take appropriate actions when necessary to achieve the objective of price stability.

    Furthermore, the MPC highlighted the importance of maintaining a prudent fiscal stance to manage aggregate demand effectively. This fiscal responsibility is seen as crucial to achieving the medium-term target of 5-7 per cent inflation by the end of the fiscal year 2025. 

  • Asad Umar gets pre-arrest bail in cipher case; Qureshi, Imran bail pleas rejected

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar got pre-arrest bail in US cipher case from a special court on Thurday. On the other hand, PTI’s Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s bail pleas got rejected in the same case while their judicial remand has been extended till September 26.


    Special prosecutor Shah Khawar told the judge Abul Hasnat that Umar’s arrest is not necessary at this stage.


    “Asad Umar’s arrest is not required in the case as yet and no evidence against him has been gathered as of now,” Shah Khawar told the judge, adding that if investigators found evidence against the former finance minister, he would be informed.


    “If Asad Umar’s arrest is required, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will proceed according to law,” the judge ordered.


    Judge Hasnat also instructed FIA to inform Asad Umar before arresting him.

  • 7th straight win: Pakistani rupee gains 86 paisas, closes at Rs297.96 per US dollar

    7th straight win: Pakistani rupee gains 86 paisas, closes at Rs297.96 per US dollar

    The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) has extended its impressive winning streak against the US dollar for the seventh consecutive session, concluding at PKR 297.96 to the dollar. This marks a gain of 86 paisas when compared to the previous rate of Rs298.82 in the interbank foreign exchange market on Wednesday.

    The PKR’s recent surge follows its all-time low of PKR 307.10 on September 5, 2023. Within this short span, the Pakistani rupee has appreciated by PKR 9.14, equivalent to an impressive 3 percent increase in the interbank foreign exchange market.

    Following a concerted effort by authorities to suppress illicit black market activities in the major cities of Pakistan, the Pakistani rupee continued its upward trajectory against the US dollar, marking a substantial three-point gain in the open market on Thursday.

    The Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP) reported a noteworthy recovery of the rupee, which surged to 298 in relation to the greenback, reflecting a significant increase.

    This crackdown on black market operators was initiated earlier in the month in response to a precipitous decline in the rupee’s value, hitting a record low of Rs333.7 on September 5. The impetus for this decisive action stemmed from appeals made to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Asim Munir by currency dealers, beseeching him to intervene and stabilise the escalating value of the American currency.

    As a direct outcome of these concerted efforts, the Pakistani currency rebounded to a level below 300 per dollar in the open market earlier this week. This positive shift also saw a substantial influx of tens of millions of dollars back into the country’s interbank and open markets, according to reports from dealers.

  • Indian-made iPhone 15 units expected to reach Pakistan soon

    Indian-made iPhone 15 units expected to reach Pakistan soon

    Apple is expected to release iPhone 15 units manufactured in India for sale in India and other countries. This means that we might also see these made in India iPhones in Pakistan, as Pakistani mobile sellers import iPhones from various countries like China, Japan, Hong Kong, and the US. While these Indian-made iPhones may not arrive in Pakistan directly from India, they are likely to become available as they enter international markets.

    Unfortunately, there are no official Apple stores in Pakistan, and there are limited authorised Apple product sellers. It remains uncertain how many iPhones made in India will be available in Pakistan in the future, but as Indian iPhone production increases, we can expect to see more of them.

    Although the majority of iPhone 15 units will still come from China, Apple’s efforts to scale production in India are making progress, reducing its reliance on Chinese manufacturing. Apple began assembling previous iPhone generations in India in 2017 and has been producing flagship iPhones there since 2020. The company aims to increase its production in India from 7 per cent to 25 per cent by 2025. However, there may still be some delays due to logistical challenges.

    Closing the production gap between China and India is crucial for Apple, as it provides a reliable manufacturing alternative and helps the company comply with India’s Make in India law to avoid steep tariffs. This move also aligns with Apple’s strategy to navigate geopolitical issues and local labour disputes.

    Given recent Chinese nationalism, which encourages the use of domestic brands like Huawei, this shift in production location is timely. Despite their high cost and the requirement for PTA approval in Pakistan, Apple iPhones remain popular among those who can afford them.