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Tag: Pakistan

  • PAC orders investigation into data leak of military officials

    PAC orders investigation into data leak of military officials

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has on Thursday expressed apprehensions over the data leak of citizens and of military officials from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

    PAC ordered the Ministry of Interior to conduct a joint investigation into the data leak. Pakistan Tele-communication Authority (PTA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Military Intelligence (MI) should be included in the investigation team, PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan said.

    Noor Alam Khan also asked PTA to block the data online, stating, “Everyone’s personal data is available on the internet. Data of military authorities has also been leaked. How was it leaked from NADRA?”

  • Justice Musarrat Hilali becomes second woman to take oath as Supreme Court Judge

    Justice Musarrat Hilali becomes second woman to take oath as Supreme Court Judge


    Justice Musarrat Hilali on Friday took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, with Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial administering the oath to the former Peshawar High Court head.

    She has become the second female judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court. After Hilali’s appointment the SC now has 16 judges in total.

    Earlier, a parliamentary committee had approved Justice Musarrat Hilali’s appointment as a justice of the apex court.

    Justice Ayesha Malik, appointed in January 2022 to the apex court, was the first female to become a judge of the Supreme Court. Mussarat Hilali was also the first female Chief Justice of PHC. She is the only woman on the bench since 2013.

    Justice Hilali also holds the honour of getting elected as the first woman executive member of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) from 2007-2009.

  • Gold market bounces back with second consecutive price increase of Rs1,800 to Rs207,800 per tola

    Gold market bounces back with second consecutive price increase of Rs1,800 to Rs207,800 per tola

    The price of gold in Pakistan has experienced a notable increase for the second consecutive session, following a prolonged period of decline subsequent to the $3 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Data provided by the All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA) reveals that the price of 24-carat gold rose by Rs1,800 per tola and Rs1,543 per 10 grammes, reaching Rs207,800 and Rs178,155 respectively.

    Simultaneously, the international market witnessed a decrease in the price of gold by $23, resulting in a settlement at $1,905 per ounce.

    The gold market in Pakistan has exhibited volatility recently due to persistent political and economic uncertainty, along with high inflation. Consequently, individuals seek to invest in this valuable commodity as a means of safeguarding their assets and hedging against market fluctuations.

    The APSGJA’s data also indicates that the price of silver has remained unchanged at Rs2,380 per tola and Rs2,126.20 per 10 grammes. Notably, the previous day witnessed a Rs1,000 increase in the price of gold.

    Furthermore, the Pakistani rupee displayed a marginal recovery of 0.13 per cent against the US dollar on Thursday. The interbank market, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), recorded the local currency closing at Rs277.04 in relation to the greenback.

  • Is McDonald’s closing operations in Pakistan? We have the real story

    Is McDonald’s closing operations in Pakistan? We have the real story

    McDonald’s Pakistan’s recent social media posts triggered rumors of the company shutting down its operations in the country.

    The first post in question read: “It’s time to pause for a while.”

    The Second post which was done 20 hours after first post read, “Pause to indulge.”

    Here’s how social media reacted to the possible shutdown of McDonald’s:

    https://twitter.com/daactarrsaab/status/1676922233393156097

    However, The Current’s sources have revealed that McDonald’s is not shutting its operations in Pakistan and the posts are a part of an upcoming campaign.

  • Accountability court acquits Nawaz Sharif in plot allotment case

    Accountability court acquits Nawaz Sharif in plot allotment case

    An accountability court has acquitted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday in a case pertaining to a reference on illegal plot allotment.

    The judgement said that the record shows that Nawaz Sharif was subjected to political revenge, blaming the government of the time for forcing National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials to destroy the political career of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head.

    The accountability court has declared that the role of Nawaz Sharif in the allegations of the reference is less than that of his co-accused.

    The court has ordered the restoration of the Sharif’s properties and those of 27 shareholders, while emphasising that NAB should release the property after the time of appeal expires.

    The accountability court has also said in the decision that the court cannot be a silent spectator.

  • In 11 hours, Khan followed by 18k, Shehbaz Sharif by 417 followers on new social platform Threads

    In 11 hours, Khan followed by 18k, Shehbaz Sharif by 417 followers on new social platform Threads

    Threads, Meta’s rival to Twitter, has gained at least 10 million users since its launch on Thursday. Pakistani Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan are also among the newly joined users.


    The PTI chairman has 18,000 followers in the first eleven hours of the launch whereas the PM’s following list was limited to 417.


    The app went live on Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries at 7:00 pm EDT and 4:00 am Pakistan time.

    PM shared a picture of himself working out in his first post on Threads.

    Read more: Twitter’s worst nightmare: Facebook to launch Threads on Thursday as a rival to Musk’s platform

    In response to the growing popularity of Snapchat, Instagram introduced a feature called “stories” in 2016, allowing user posts to disappear after a certain period. More recently, Instagram’s “Reels” feature has aimed to compete with the rising prominence of TikTok.


    The launch of Threads poses a credible threat to Twitter under Musk’s leadership. His attempts to boost revenues and reshape the platform in his own image have faced significant criticism. Following the acquisition last year, Musk downsized the company by approximately 80 per cent and reinstated several banned accounts, including those of former US President Donald Trump and the conservative satirical news site Babylon Bee.

  • Pakistan’s pharma industry exports soar to record-breaking $713 million in FY2022-23

    Pakistan’s pharma industry exports soar to record-breaking $713 million in FY2022-23

    Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry has experienced an impressive surge in exports, reaching an all-time high of $713 million during the fiscal year 2022-23. The remarkable boost in exports can be attributed to the increased demand for surgical and medical equipment, as well as pharmaceutical products.

    The data reveals that surgical and medical equipment exports accounted for $407 million, while drugs and pharmaceutical products contributed $306 million to the export value. Surgical equipment exports witnessed a notable increase of 6.03 per cent, while there was a substantial growth of 25.16 per cent in pharmaceutical product exports.

    Sources indicate that the volume of pharmaceutical exports witnessed a remarkable rise of 98.6 per cent during the fiscal year 2022-23. Approximately 51,964 metric tons of medicines and medical devices were exported, demonstrating the industry’s expanding reach.

    In terms of specific quantities, Pakistan exported 26,054 metric tons of medicines and medical equipment, contributing significantly to the impressive growth in the pharmaceutical sector’s export value. The notable growth of 25.3 per cent in pharma export value further highlights the industry’s success in the international market.

    Looking ahead, sources report that the pharma industry has set an ambitious export target of $1 billion for the fiscal year 2024-25, indicating the industry’s determination to continue its upward trajectory.

    According to ARY News, industry insiders attribute this substantial increase in exports to the incentives provided to the pharmaceutical sector. The government’s support and facilitation have played a crucial role in boosting the industry’s growth and enabling it to compete effectively on the global stage.

    Furthermore, sources highlight the noteworthy surge in exports of Pakistani medical equipment, particularly during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for locally produced ventilators witnessed a significant rise as Pakistan began manufacturing its own ventilators to address critical needs during the health crisis.

    The thriving pharmaceutical industry and its impressive export performance signify Pakistan’s growing influence in the global healthcare market. With continued support from the government and a commitment to innovation and quality, the country’s pharma sector is poised for further growth and success in the years to come.

  • 2013 elections were better than 2008, 2018: EU Parliaments head of Election Observation Mission

    2013 elections were better than 2008, 2018: EU Parliaments head of Election Observation Mission

    Michael Gahler, the head of the Election Observation Mission (EOM) of the European Union (EU) Parliament has said while talking to a group of journalists that the EU will not send its election observer mission to Pakistan for the upcoming elections.
    When asked which elections were better, Gahler said 2013 was better than 2008 and 2018.


    Gahler said he had established 30 recommendations after observing the last few elections.


    “Military doesn’t want to take over because they’d be blamed but they still want to control their areas of interest to ensure they’re not touched,” he commented, adding that media and press was more vivid in 2008 and 2013 but it was to the contrary in 2018.


    He wished that for the next elections, every candidate can stand/contest elections without any influence of a third force. “People deserve proper elections.”


    European External Action Service (EEAS) does annual work plans to decide which countries to send EOMs to. Criteria to take into account: previous quality of elections, political significance, follow-up on past EOMs and its recommendations, logistics (costs, security etc).

    Pakistan elections of 2018 has been one of the largest, most complex and expensive EOMs of the EU.

    For 2023, HRVP decided to send only an expert mission (EMM) to Pakistan.

  • Five Pakistanis arrested for ‘suspicious’ remittances in Israel

    Five Pakistanis arrested for ‘suspicious’ remittances in Israel

    Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested five Pakistanis for working in Israel. They were sending ‘suspicious’ remittances to Pakistan, the BBC has reported.

    It is notable that no one can travel to Israel on a Pakistani Passport because the country has never diplomatically recognised Israel.

    Investigation officer Muhammad Iqbal told the BBC that the FIA received information from official sources about the ‘suspicious’ transactions in remittances to Pakistan from Israel. He further added that these transactions took place between 2016 and 2021.

    The FIA has detained five people, and raids are being conducted to arrest another three. According to the FIA, the arrested people belong to religious organisations. However, these religious organisations are not banned.

    The people who have been arrested are from the Mirpur Khas area of Sindh. Among the arrested people, four had ‘Schengen’ visas, which means they can travel to 27 countries in Europe.

  • Lucky Motor Corporation increases Kia car prices by up to Rs4 lakh

    Lucky Motor Corporation increases Kia car prices by up to Rs4 lakh

    Lucky Motor Corporation Limited (LMCL) has implemented price increases across all Kia car models, with the exception of Picanto Manual, Stonic EX, and Carnival. The company has not provided a specific justification for this price surge.

    It is worth noting that, in contrast to the previous price adjustment, the company has also raised the price of the Picanto. As of July 5, the revised prices for the various models are outlined in the following table:

    ModelOld price (Rs)New price (Rs)Hike (Rs)
    Picanto Automatic3,625,0003,825,000200,000
    Stonic EX+5,930,0006,050,000120,000
    Sportage Alpha7,050,0007,300,000250,000
    Sportage FWD7,940,0008,190,000250,000
    Sportage AWD8,570,0008,820,000250,000
    Sportage Black Edition9,050,0009,300,000250,000
    Sorento FWD10,400,00010,800,000400,000
    Sorento AWD11,300,00011,700,000400,000
    Sorento V611,390,00011,790,000400,000

    Previously, the company held a notable market share and was mentioned alongside Pakistan’s leading car manufacturers until mid-2022. However, currently, Kia’s car sales have dwindled to merely a few hundred units.

    Although there was a slight increase in sales for the company last month, it was not substantial enough to make a significant impact. Given the prevailing circumstances, it is understandable that all automakers in Pakistan are focused on survival.