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  • CPI inflation in Pakistan increases to 26.6% in October

    CPI inflation in Pakistan increases to 26.6% in October

    In Pakistan, Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation rose sharply in October, surging by 26.6 per cent year over year (YoY). On the other hand, it climbed 4.7 per cent month over month (MoM), indicating a decline of 1.2 per cent from September.

    “CPI inflation General, increased to 26.6 per cent on YoY basis in Oct 2022 as compared to an increase of 23.2 per cent in the previous month and 9.2 per cent in Oct 2021,” said the PBS.

    According to APP, inflation reached a YoY high of 27.3 per cent in August 2022, which was over a 47-year high in the inflation measurement in June 2022 after it had crossed the 20 per cent threshold.

    The inflation reading matches what the market had predicted.

    According to the PBS, year-over-year CPI inflation in urban areas reached 24.6 per cent in October 2022 as opposed to an increase of 21.2 per cent in the previous month and 9.6 per cent in October 2021.

    In October 2022, it grew to 4.5 per cent month over month, up from 1.7 per cent in October 2021 and a decline of 2.1 per cent the month before.

    In addition, year-over-year CPI inflation in rural regions reached 29.5 per cent in October 2022 as opposed to increases of 26.1 per cent in the previous month and 8.7 per cent in October 2021.

    When compared to the previous month’s gain of 0.2 per cent and the increase of 2.2 per cent in October 2021, it increased by 5.0 per cent in October 2022 on a monthly basis.

    Rising inflation has become a major worry for Pakistan’s economy, which is already experiencing a loss of foreign exchange reserves.

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) maintained the policy rate at 15 per cent in October at the recommendation of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), believing that the current monetary policy stance achieves the right mix between controlling inflation and sustaining growth in the wake of the floods.

    “On the one hand, inflation could be higher and more persistent due to the supply shock to food prices, and it is important to ensure that this additional impetus does not spill over into broader prices in the economy. On the other, growth prospects have weakened, which should reduce demand-side pressures and suppress underlying inflation,” MPC said then.

    However, the government on Monday night announced that the price of petroleum products will remain the same for the ensuing 15 days.

    According to PBS data, the inflation rates that were highest in October were in the transportation, food, housing, and restaurant and hotel groupings.

    Items that witnessed an increase in prices

    Food

    The food commodities that witnessed increase in prices on a YoY basis included tomatoes (219.34 per cent), onions (165.66 per cent), gram whole (69.80 per cent), pulse gram (65.08 per cent), besan (62.25 per cent), mustard oil (61.14 per cent), pulse masoor (61.07 per cent), fresh vegetables (58.87 per cent), cooking oil (58.06 per cent), pulse mash (55.33 per cent), vegetable ghee (52.5 per cent), pulse moong (49.84 per cent), wheat (45.77 per cent), tea (41.89 per cent), rice (40.76 per cent), wheat flour (37.38 per cent), milk fresh (29.61 per cent), meat (25.34 per cent), potatoes (20.65 per cent), fish (15.4 per cent), chicken (12.22 per cent) and gur (0.39 per cent).

    Non-food items

    The non-food commodities that witnessed increase on a YoY basis included motor fuel (64.81 per cent), stationery (44.5 per cent), washing soap/detergents/match box (41.49 per cent), transport services (41.27 per cent), motor vehicles (34.29 per cent), construction input items (32.03 per cent), motor vehicle accessories (31.31 per cent), electricity charges (24.95 per cent), cotton cloth (24.16 per cent), household equipment (21.4 per cent), solid fuel (20.88 per cent) and construction wage rates (12.72 per cent).

  • Eight million flood-affected people need immediate medical attention, $81m: WHO

    Eight million flood-affected people need immediate medical attention, $81m: WHO

    The World Health Organization has issued a warning that the flood-affected areas of Pakistan are becoming more dangerous as eight million people are in need of immediate medical attention.


    According to WHO Regional Emergency Director Dr Richard Brennan, deteriorated infrastructure, stagnant water and insufficient sanitation facilities are all contributing to an increase in public health hazards.

    He said that massive amounts of lingering floodwaters had served as mosquito breeding grounds, causing an ongoing malaria outbreak in 32 regions across the nation.


    According to Dr Brennan, it will be difficult for relief organisations to handle the crisis. 

    He said that more than $81.5 million was required to address the health crisis in Pakistan’s flood-affected regions in order to ensure coordinated provision of critical medical services, effective management of severe acute malnutrition, and more effective epidemic identification and control.


    The UN has issued a warning about a “second wave” of disaster, with the possibility that the 1,700 people who drowned and died from electrocution in the original cascade may be outnumbered by those who die from water-borne illness and starvation.
    As many as 33 million people of the 220 million South Asian nation have been affected in some way by the floods that swept away houses, roads, railways and bridges and submerged around 4 million acres of farmland.

  • Best-selling author slams Musk’s plan to charge $20 for Twitter’s blue tick verification

    Best-selling author slams Musk’s plan to charge $20 for Twitter’s blue tick verification

    Elon Musk, who recently acquired control of the microblogging network in a $44 billion deal, responded to bestseller author Stephen King’s tweet expressing dissatisfaction over the anticipated cost for a verified badge.

    There have been rumours that Twitter would soon begin charging verified users a monthly charge for the blue ticks on their handles, Mr King said, “$20 a month to keep my blue check? F*** that, they should pay me. If that gets instituted, I’m gone like Enron.”

    The monthly charge is the subject of much rumour, with some reports stating it will be around $5 per month and others estimating it to be as high as $20. The author’s tweet on Enron relates to the significant US corporation’s spectacular collapse following years of explosive growth.

    Responding to Mr King’s tweet, Mr Musk said, “We need to pay the bills somehow! Twitter cannot rely entirely on advertisers. How about $8?”

    Many people believe it is not worthwhile to pay for a blue tick, while others contend that there is nothing wrong with charging individuals for the blue tick. The buzz surrounding the charge for a certified badge has ignited a heated debate.

    According to Musk, who oversaw the dramatic events that led to the dramatic developments of the Twitter takeover that also reached the court, the verification process for accounts is being updated. He made no further explanations.

    If the initiative is approved, users would have to pay $4.99 per month for Twitter Blue in order to keep their “verified” badges.

    Although the project may still be shelved because the CEO of Tesla Inc. has not made a final decision, Platformer predicts that verification will most likely be included in Twitter Blue.

    Musk dissolves Twitter’s board of directors

    In order to further solidify his authority over the social media network, Elon Musk earlier dissolved the Twitter’s board of directors.

    After purchasing the business last week, the multi-billionaire will serve as its CEO, putting an end to months of negotiations over the $44 billion acquisition.

    He has taken swift action to leave his stamp on the company, which is utilised by journalists and politicians all over the world.

    He is thinking about making adjustments to Twitter’s verification process and eliminating positions. According to reports, the first round of layoff is being discussed and may affect 25 per cent of the company’s workforce.

  • Maryam Nawaz calls IK’s long march ‘part-time march’

    Maryam Nawaz calls IK’s long march ‘part-time march’

    Maryam Nawaz, Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), took a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s ongoing long march, calling it a “part-time march”.

    “It should be called a part-time long march because he leaves his abode in Lahore after eating lunch and goes out for two or three hours to come back in time for his evening tea. After every 10 miles, he comes back to Lahore,” said the PML-N leader, addressing a press conference in London.

    The PML-N leader said the “part-time” march ends within two hours of starting, and it is still stuck in Lahore despite the passage of five days since it’s commencement. “And now, we are hearing reports that it will take eight to ten more days to reach Islamabad,” she said.

    The daughter of PML-N head, Nawaz Sharif, said that no institution was supporting Imran Khan’s march, however, she said that one or two individuals could be behind it.

    She further alleged that Khan is still searching for people in the establishment who will continue to support him but said that the nation was aware of this. “Your lies are unravelling and your time has ended”, she said, addressing Khan.

    ‘A precious life was lost’: Maryam about deceased journalist Sadaf Naeem

    Maryam sent condolences to the family of deceased journalist Sadaf Naeem who was crushed to death under Imran Khan’s container on October 30.

    Offering condolences. Maryam Nawaz said that the incident forced her to think about the purpose of PTI’s long march.

    “A precious life was lost. A mother of young children passed away while covering the long march. It forced me to ponder over the purpose of the long march,” she said.

    ‘Major scandal’: Maryam Nawaz about Khan’s Toshakhana case

    Regarding the Toshakhana reference, Maryam alleged that another “major scandal” related to the issue is soon coming to light.

    According to her, a British multinational jeweller, Graff, had gifted a diamond set that Imran had paid “Rs20 million for and sold in Dubai for Rs220m”.

    Maryam further said that in total, Khan had looted up to Rs. 50 million from the Toshakhana, which is the property of the nation.

  • India releases Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s ‘DDLJ’ again in theatres on his 57th birthday

    India releases Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s ‘DDLJ’ again in theatres on his 57th birthday

    Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s evergreen film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge will be re-released in theatres all over India on the Bollywood King’s 57th birthday on November 2.

    Yash Raj Films announced the news on October 31 through their Instagram handle. They shared the poster of the film in order to announce the news.

    DDLJ is a romantic-drama movie written and directed by Aditya Chopra. The film was released back in 1995 and became a massive blockbuster. It stars Shah Rukh and Kajol in the lead roles. The story of the film revolved around Raj and Simran’s love story.

    DDLJ is also the winner of a record-breaking (at the time) 10 Filmfare awards and the film changed the face of Bollywood globally.

    Even after 27 years of its release, the movie is still being screened at a theatre in Mumbai, screening there since the day of its original release.

  • ‘Deny Imran face saving’: Nawaz instructs Shehbaz

    ‘Deny Imran face saving’: Nawaz instructs Shehbaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Monday prohibited his younger brother, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, from accepting the demands of Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Taking to Twitter, Nawaz taunted Imran Khan for the relatively sparse crowds in the march. “The one who claimed to bring one million people out on the streets couldn’t even manage to gather 2,000 workers,” the former Prime Minister wrote.

    He said that he has instructed PM Shehbaz not to bow before Khan’s demands at any cost. “Whether he instigates a mob of 2,000 people or 20,000 people, neither to listen to any demand of this fitna (rabble-rouser) nor to give him any chance to save face.”

    He added that the prime minister should “focus all of his energy on serving the public”.

    Nawaz went on to say that ever since Khan’s lies have been exposed, the nation has become apathetic to his narrative. “He told one lie after another so brutally and brazenly that the DG ISI [Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum] was forced to break his silence and tell the truth to the nation”.

    He said that despite the passage of many days, Khan could not come up with a clarification. “That is why all his emphasis is habitually limited to swearing.”

    On the other hand, Imran Khan, in an interview has said , “Let them impose martial law.” On the fourth day of his long march, his statement was addressed to the establishment in reply to a question asked by journalist Imran Riaz Khan.

    “Impose martial law. If they want to impose, It doesn’t affect me,” said Khan.

    Khan further added that the current political scenario in the country was worst than former President and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Pervez Musharraf’s martial law. Khan added that when PTI leaders Azam Swati and Shahbaz Gill were tortured they were told that, “Imran would face the same.”

  • ‘Do khaas, teen saanp’: Vawda points fingers within PTI in Arshad Sharif’s murder

    ‘Do khaas, teen saanp’: Vawda points fingers within PTI in Arshad Sharif’s murder

    Faisal Vawda, ex-member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has made the revelation that people within his former party could be involved in the murder of renowned journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

    On Samaa News’ programme “Nadeem Malik Live” which aired on Monday, Vawda said, “The assassination was planned in Pakistan by those who could benefit from it,” adding that the murder better suits “three snakes and two VIPs”.

    He said that the “three snakes” belong to the PTI, however, the other two VIPs are non-political and are trusted by Imran Khan. He claimed that he himself had warned Khan several times about them.

    About Arshad Sharif, who was killed on October 23 by two gunshot wounds, the former PTI member said, “He had no issue in coming back to Pakistan”.

    When asked if the establishment supported PTI in the 2018 elections, he said, “If anyone says that the establishment had no role in elections, it will be a lie.”

    He reiterated that the long march which his former party is carrying out right now, would be a bloody march and PTI is heading right toward it.

    On October 26, Vawda dismissed the version of the Kenyan police about Arshad being killed in a case of “mistaken identity”.

    Vawda had made claims that the party’s long march would “witness bloodshed, death, and funerals”. The same day, the PTI suspended Vawda and said that he would not be allowed to hold any party office or represent the party in the media as he had “grossly violated discipline by giving statements against party policies and guidelines”.

    Last week, PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced that Vawda’s membership stands terminated for failing to respond to the show-cause notice issued to him on October 26.

  • ‘Laga dein martial law’: Twitter questions ‘what’s wrong’ with Khan?

    ‘Laga dein martial law’: Twitter questions ‘what’s wrong’ with Khan?

    Twitter has reacted strongly to a statement by Imran Khan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who said in an interview, “Let them impose martial law.” On the fourth day of his long march, his statement was addressed to the establishment in reply to a question asked by journalist Imran Riaz Khan.

    “Impose martial law. If they want to impose, It doesn’t affect me,” said Khan.

    Khan further added that the current political scenario in the country was worst than former President and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Pervez Musharraf’s martial law. Khan added that when PTI leaders Azam Swati and Shahbaz Gill were tortured they were told that, “Imran would face the same.”

    The former Prime Minister said that he would not be scared or intimidated, adding that those who want to destroy the country’s biggest political party are cowards.

    “Until there is rule of law and accountability for all, there is no future for Pakistan,” Khan said.

    After the interview clip went viral on social media, Twitterati had questions about how Khan spoke and how wrong his statement on martial law was.

    https://twitter.com/Nabeelpervez/status/1587237772087414784?s=20&t=w43XMd9IrivwFoEFtcHP_w
  • ‘Love her, she’s so strong and has improved in many ways’: Humaima Malick praises Shehnaaz Gill

    ‘Love her, she’s so strong and has improved in many ways’: Humaima Malick praises Shehnaaz Gill

    Actor Humaima Malick is currently riding high on the success of her latest blockbuster The Legend Of Maula Jatt. The Bol star took to her Instagram stories to praise Bollywood star Shehnaaz Gill for coming a long way since her Bigg Boss 13 days.

    Humaima wrote, “I love her, damn how she improved in so many ways and she is so strong.” Pakistani actress Hina Altaf liked her stance on Instagram.

    Malick wrote this while resharing Gill’s recent interview in which she talks about never judging people and their potential.

  • Poor performance forces govt to extend income tax return filing deadline to November 30

    Poor performance forces govt to extend income tax return filing deadline to November 30

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has managed to reach its four-month target of Rs2.14 trillion despite poor performance in increasing the tax base because of a 34 per cent decrease in income tax returns filed.

    Ishaq Dar, the finance minister, was forced to once again push the deadline for filing returns due to the dismal results in increasing the tax base. The new deadline is November 30; within this time, FBR must receive an additional Rs1.3 million in returns only to match the amount from the previous year.

    The FBR collected Rs2.148 trillion in taxes, as opposed to the objective of Rs2.143 trillion set for the period of July to October, according to FBR officials. Tax revenue increased by 16 per cent, or Rs305 billion, as compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.

    This increase was slower than the 23 per cent inflation rate that was in effect at the time. but adequate for the first four months of the fiscal year to keep the tax department on pace.

    According to Express Tribune, the FBR had taken in Rs1.84 trillion in tax revenue during the first four months of the previous fiscal year. The economy’s slowdown, however, makes it appear as though the FBR may fall short of its tax goals for the upcoming months.

    A decrease in imports was the main reason the FBR could not meet its monthly tax goal of Rs 534 billion, which it missed by Rs 22 billion. Although there was a 15 per cent increase in revenue over the Rs445 billion collected in October of last year, the monthly goal was not met.

    The Inland Revenue Service (IRS) exceeded its July–October goal, largely mitigating the effects of the Customs Department’s low collection rate.

    As long as less than 2.5 million people file income tax returns, the tax system will not be able to increase the tax base, which has shrunk by 34 per cent during the previous tax year. Up to Rs3.8 million worth of returns have been submitted for the 2021 tax year.

    By extending the tax base to include traders, Pakistan had promised the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it would increase the tax base by a minimum of 700,000. Instead, it is approximately Rs1.3 million below the total from the prior year. The FBR’s base really falls two million short of its own conservative goal.