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  • China will not attend G20 meeting to be held in Indian-Occupied Kashmir

    China will not attend G20 meeting to be held in Indian-Occupied Kashmir

    China has said that it is opposed to a G20 tourism meeting next week in the disputed Himalayan territory in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, confirming that it will not attend, handing a significant diplomatic victory to Pakistan.

    “China is firmly opposed to holding any kind of G20 meetings in disputed territory, and will not attend such meetings,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.

    India, which holds the chair of G20 this year, has organised a series of meetings across the country in the run-up to the summit in New Delhi in September.

    Srinagar, the capital of the occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir, will host a meeting of the tourism working group for G20 members on May 22-24.

    Despite backlash for holding the meeting in disputed territory, the Modi-led government has not backed off from its plans to do so.

  • Life-saving medicines in Pakistan to become 14% more expensive

    Life-saving medicines in Pakistan to become 14% more expensive

    The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has announced an increase of up to 14 per cent in the prices of life-saving medicines, following approval from the federal government.

    According to ARY News, DRAP stated that life-saving drugs will experience a 14 per cent hike, while all other medicines will see a 20 per cent increase.

    The regulatory authority clarified that these price adjustments are considered a one-time dispensation, in line with the 70 per cent rise in the consumer price index (CPI). This increase will be regarded as the annual raise for the fiscal year 2023-24, with no further increments in the upcoming financial year.

    The DRAP’s Policy Board will evaluate the situation after three months, specifically in July 2023, and submit recommendations to the federal government for potential price reductions, should the Rupee appreciate in value.

    The Economic Advisory Committee had already endorsed the price hike, taking into account the escalating fuel prices and the devaluation of the Rupee, which have contributed to record-high inflation in recent months, impacting various sectors of the economy.

    Earlier reports indicated a 0.16 per cent year-on-year decrease in weekly inflation, as measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), for the week ending on May 18. However, short-term inflation surged to an unprecedented 48.35 per cent for the period ending on May 4.

    The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) released data indicating a combined index of 255.12, compared to 255.53 on May 11, 2023. In contrast, the index stood at 175.08 a year ago, on May 19, 2022.

  • No evidence of corruption against Shehbaz Sharif in Ashiana housing scheme case: NAB

    No evidence of corruption against Shehbaz Sharif in Ashiana housing scheme case: NAB

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has found no evidence against Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif in a case pertaining to Ashiana
    Housing scheme.

    The NAB report highlighted that Shehbaz Sharif did not derive any personal benefits from the Ashiana Housing project.

    The watchdog’s report also cleared Kamran Kiyani, brother of former army chief General (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, of any wrongdoing in government treasury accounts.

    The report concluded that the accountability court should decide on Shehbaz Sharif’s plea for acquittal according to the law.

  • OpenAI introduces ChatGPT app for iPhone users with voice input and synced chat history

    OpenAI introduces ChatGPT app for iPhone users with voice input and synced chat history

    OpenAI has recently launched an exclusive ChatGPT application for iOS users, catering to the needs of those on the go. This downloadable and installable app provides added convenience for interacting with the bot, along with a host of impressive functionalities.

    One noteworthy feature is the incorporation of voice input, utilizing OpenAI’s open-source speech recognition model, Whisper. This integration enables users to engage with the bot using their voice, presenting an additional avenue for chat interactions.

    Moreover, the application seamlessly synchronizes your chat history across different platforms, including the web version of ChatGPT and other connected devices. This ensures a consistent and unified user experience, allowing you to effortlessly continue your work and keep track of previous queries while on the move.

    For subscribers of ChatGPT Plus, a variety of benefits await. These include access to the enhanced GPT-4 version, early access to upcoming features, and faster response times—much like the web version.

    Presently, the application is available for download on the Apple App Store to iOS users in the United States. It is expected that the availability of the app will soon expand to other countries. Android users can anticipate a similar timeline for the release of their version of the app.

  • Fact-check: Is the First Lady of Pakistan ill?

    Fact-check: Is the First Lady of Pakistan ill?

    Claim: A screen grab of a news channel apparently airing news that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s wife Tehmina Durrani is experiencing heart trouble is doing the rounds on social media.

    The screenshot says that Tehmina Durrani is experiencing heart complications.

    Fact: Taking to Twitter, Durrani clarified that she is doing very well.

    She wrote, “A country that makes falsehood it’s national language needs to recognise that TRUTH is Islam. By the grace of God, I am very well.”

    VERDICT: The news is false.

  • Modi says want normal and neighbourly relations with Pakistan

    In an interview with a Japanese news media outlet, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that he wants “normal and neighbourly relations” with Pakistan.

    “However, it is incumbent upon them to create a conducive environment free from terrorism and hostilities. The onus is on Pakistan,” he added.

    While talking about Indian’s relation with China, Modi said, “Peace and tranquility in the border areas are essential for normal bilateral ties with China”.

    He said that future development of India-China relationship can only be based on mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.

    He added that “normalising” the ties would benefit the wider region and the world.

  • Weekly inflation in Pakistan remains stubbornly high at 45.72%

    Weekly inflation in Pakistan remains stubbornly high at 45.72%

    Despite coming down marginally, weekly inflation remains above 45 per cent and stood at 45.72 per cent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis for the week ended on 18th May 2023, showed data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PSB) on Friday.

    The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) based inflation for the week ended 11th May 2023, recorded a decrease of 0.16 per cent over the previous week due to a decrease in the prices of food and non-food items.

    The year-on-year trend posted an increase due to an increase in the prices of Cigarettes (138.50 per cent), Tea Lipton (114.93 per cent), Potatoes (114.69 per cent), Gas Charges for Q1 (108.38 per cent), Bananas (104.44 per cent), Gents Sponge Chappal (100.33 per cent), Wheat Flour (90.77 per cent), Rice Basmati Broken (86.30 per cent), Eggs (85.86 per cent), Rice Irri-6/9 (80.44 per cent), Petrol (79.85 per cent), Diesel (78.68 per cent), Pulse Moong (66.79 per cent), Bread (63.17 per cent), and Pulse Mash (57.06 per cent), while a decrease was observed in the prices of Tomatoes (38.30 per cent), Onions (30.18 per cent), and Chilies Powdered (6.48 per cent).

    A decrease was observed in the prices of food items: Onions (9.04 per cent), Garlic (1.76 per cent), Sugar (1.42 per cent), Wheat Flour (1.40 per cent), Vegetable Ghee 2.5kg (0.63 per cent), Mustard Oil (0.48 per cent), Pulse Masoor (0.40 per cent), Pulse Gram (0.12 per cent), and Vegetable Ghee 1kg (0.11 per cent); and non-food items: Diesel (10.38 per cent), Petrol (4.24 per cent), LPG (3.02 per cent), and Firewood (0.89 per cent).

    On the other hand, an increase was observed in the prices of Chicken (7.51 per cent), Tea Lipton (4.53 per cent), Gur (2.79 per cent), Eggs (2.29 per cent), Energy Saver (2.22 per cent), Tomatoes (2.11 per cent), Tea Prepared (1.09 per cent), and Curd (1.08 per cent).

    During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 23 (45.10 per cent) items increased, 13 (25.49 per cent) items decreased, and 15 (29.41 per cent) items remained stable.

  • Fact-Check: Have Imran Khan’s sons joined Twitter?

    Fact-Check: Have Imran Khan’s sons joined Twitter?

    Claim:

    Twitter accounts of both the sons of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan have emerged on the micro-blogging site with usernames @SulemanIsaKhan and @kasimkhanreal. Many people are sharing tweets from the accounts, believing them to be Qasim and Suleman Khan.

    Fact:

    However, the screenshots of the accounts are fake, as are the accounts themselves.

    Imran Khan’s ex-wife and mother of his sons, Jemima Goldsmith, has confirmed that both accounts are imposters.
    “Fake accounts pretending to be my children, created by imposters with a political agenda in Pakistan. This is exactly what I feared would happen when you took away Twitter’s verification blue ticks. FYI my children are not on social media & have no plans to be,” she wrote in a tweet.

    Verdict: The verdict is false.

  • JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq attacked by suicide bomber in Balochistan

    JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq attacked by suicide bomber in Balochistan

    A convoy led by Siraj-ul-Haq, the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), was attacked by a suicide bomber on Friday in Zhob, Balochistan.

    The Secretary General of the party, Ameer ul Azeem, has confirmed that an explosion took place near the convoy. He further said that the attacker has been killed.

    Siraj-ul-Haq and all members of his convoy are safe.

    The JI chief was on his way to address a rally in Zhob when the attack took place.

  • Pakistan’s forex reserves decline to $4.31 billion, covering less than a month’s worth of imports

    Pakistan’s forex reserves decline to $4.31 billion, covering less than a month’s worth of imports

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has experienced a continuous decline in foreign exchange reserves for the third consecutive week. This decline is attributed to the country’s ongoing struggle to secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    The central bank’s statement indicates that the reserves decreased by $72 million to reach $4.31 billion as of May 12, primarily due to external debt payments. This amount is sufficient for less than a month’s worth of imports.

    In contrast, commercial banks in Pakistan hold net foreign reserves amounting to $5.62 billion, which is $1.01 billion higher than the central bank’s reserves. Therefore, the country’s total liquid foreign reserves amount to $9.93 billion.

    Pakistan’s economy is currently facing significant challenges, exacerbated by financial difficulties and the delay in reaching an agreement with the IMF. Such an agreement is crucial as it would provide much-needed funding to mitigate the risk of default.

    Earlier, on May 11, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) witnessed a decline of $74 million in foreign exchange reserves within a week, resulting in reserves amounting to $4.38 billion. Additionally, commercial banks held net foreign reserves of $5.6 billion.

    Reports indicate that the IMF remains skeptical and is urging Islamabad to take further actions to unlock the loan program, despite assurances from friendly countries regarding external funds for Pakistan.

    Pakistan has been asked to present a repayment plan for a $3.7 billion loan to the IMF in June and demonstrate stronger support from friendly nations to fulfill its commitments.