Nation expresses gratitude to key middle eastern allies for substantial support for Pakistan’s economic development: Ashrafi
Ashrafi said the UAE, recognizing the shared economic interests, had engaged in groundbreaking multi-billion dollar deals across diverse sectors. He said these agreements, facilitated under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), marked a strategic collaboration to foster economic stability and growth in Pakistan. He said the UAE’s commitment to these initiatives underscored its confidence in Pakistan’s potential as a key partner in the region. Ashrafi said Kuwait, another key player in the Middle East, had joined the collective effort to support Pakistan’s economic uplift. He said the army chief had been instrumental in bolstering fraternal and commercial bonds with key middle eastern nations, including KSA, UAE, and Kuwait.
Source:The Nation
December 01, 2023 01:43 UTC
Indonesian embassy launches exhibition on Indonesia-Pakistan brotherhood
ISLAMABAD-Indonesian embassy in Pakistan yesterday inaugurated a week-long exhibition of “Soekarno’s Legacy in Building Stringer Bonds of Indonesia-Pakistan Brotherhood” at the National Library of Pakistan. The event is being organized in collaboration with the National Archives of Indonesia, the National Library of Pakistan, and National Archives of Pakistan. The main objective of the exhibition is to generate more awareness among the people of Pakistan about the historic multi-dimensional Indonesia-Pakistan relationship. The exhibition showcases a compelling collection of photographs, videos, and letters between the founding fathers of Indonesia Soekarno and Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It offers a unique glimpse into the visits of President Soekarno to Pakistan in 1960s, underlining the shared history that binds the two nations.
Source:The Nation
November 30, 2023 12:06 UTC
UE hosts 4th Int’l conference on ‘Advances in Materials Science’
LAHORE: The two-day 4th International Conference titled: “Advances in Materials Science (AIMS2023),” started at University of Education here on Wednesday. More than 120 presentations will be delivered by eminent scientists from all over the world in-person and through Zoom meetings during the conference. 0S9A8536On the occasion, Director Division of Science and Technology Prof Dr Rana Abrar Hussain shed light on objectives of the conference and expressed gratitude to the participants for their attendance. In his speech, Prof Dr Rauf-i-Azam congratulated the University of Education, Lahore on holding an international conference on this important topic. Advances in materials science have made human life easier, which shows its importance.
Source:Pakistan Today
November 30, 2023 10:29 UTC
Talks with IMF on petroleum development levy tomorrow
Islamabad: Talks between tax policy diagnostic mission of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Energy Ministry to review the initiatives under the Petroleum Development Levy on petroleum products will be held tomorrow(Thursday). During discussion, the IMF team decided to review the initiatives under the Petroleum Development Levy on petroleum products. Beside Petroleum levy, the mission will also discuss other revenue measures related to petroleum division, the source said. The consecutive governments of the PDM and Caretaker government have jacked up the petroleum Levy on Petrol and High Speed Diesel(HSD) to the maximum level. During the first quarter of 2023-24 (July to September), the collection of petroleum levy has recorded an increase of 368% on an annual basis.
Source:The Nation
November 29, 2023 15:06 UTC
Blackhawks 4, Kraken 3 — Three Stars, Key Takeaways
Blackhawks 4, Kraken 3 — Three Stars, Key TakeawaysAfter a dramatic, emotional day at the United Center, a game finally had to be played. Chicago stormed back to a two-goal lead in the second period and… actually held onto it through the end of the 20 minutes. Seattle scored an ugly goal seven minutes into the third to make it a little less comfortable. He scored the Blackhawks’ second goal of the night on an absolute howitzer from the point. Phillips had an assist on the Dickinson goal and was on the ice for seven Blackhawks’ shot attempts to four for Seattle.
Source:The Nation
November 29, 2023 07:44 UTC
Oil rises over 2% with focus on OPEC+ cuts
PHOTO: REUTERSOil prices jumped nearly 3% on Tuesday on the possibility OPEC+ will extend or deepen supply cuts, a storm-related drop in Kazakh oil output and a weaker US dollar. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $2.02, or 2.7%, to $76.88. Read: Little prospect of Russia oil dealOPEC+, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, is due to hold an online ministerial meeting on Thursday to discuss 2024 production targets. The talks will be difficult and a rollover of the previous agreement is possible rather than deeper production cuts, four OPEC+ sources said. The market tumbled last week when OPEC+ pushed back the original date for its meeting to iron out differences on production targets for African producers.
Source:The Express Tribune
November 29, 2023 05:20 UTC
Aztecs shut out from first-team All-Mountain West honors
San Diego State tight end Mark Redman was a second-team all-Mountain West pick for the second straight season. The Mountain West all-conference football teams were announced Tuesday, and — for the first time in 14 years — no San Diego State players earned first-team honors. UNLV will host Boise State on Saturday in the Mountain West championship game. The all-conference teams were selected in a vote of Mountain West head coaches and media. Browning, who was the 2022 Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, averaged 45.4 yards per punt.
Source:The Express Tribune
November 29, 2023 04:38 UTC
Attacks must stop
That Mr Akbar’s party, the PTI, introduced this culture does not justify the attack on him. The heightened tempers created on the social media leads to an atmosphere in which attacks like the one on Mr Akbar seem justified. It starts with toxicity in cyberspace, moves on to making scenes in public, and then progresses to physical attacks. The attack on Mr Akbar was preceded by the crowd which hooted Mrs Imran Khan when she visited him in jail recently. Only if political leaders stop giving tacit approval to keyboard warriors, easily done by some disciplinary proceedings, and dial down their rhetoric themselves, can this new phenomenon be stopped.
Source:Pakistan Today
November 29, 2023 00:00 UTC
Ending exploitation
The complex factors contributing to child labour, such as poverty, lack of access to education, and weak enforcement of labour laws, as mentioned in your report, are worrying. The consequences of child labour are equally complex, leading to a perpetuation of the cycle of poverty, unfulfilled potential, and long-term societal issues. The government must bolster its efforts to enforce child labour laws and regulations, with a particular focus on industries where child labour is most prevalent. It is high time that we collectively address the grave issue of child labour in Pakistan. Every child deserves a childhood free from exploitation and an opportunity to build a brighter future.
Source:The Nation
November 28, 2023 20:04 UTC
Pakistan’s economy stuck in ‘low-growth trap’: WB
Martin Raiser, the World Bank’s Regional Vice-President for South Asia, has warned that Pakistan’s economy is stuck in a “low-growth trap” with poor human development outcomes and increasing poverty. "Pakistan’s economy is stuck in a low-growth trap with poor human development outcomes and increasing poverty. Economic conditions leave Pakistan highly vulnerable to climate shocks, with insufficient public resources to finance development and climate adaptation," warned Raiser. They are intended to help inform the public policy dialogue in the context of the upcoming elections. During his visit, Raiser will meet government officials at the federal and provincial levels, and representatives from the private sector and academia.
Source:The Express Tribune
November 28, 2023 17:29 UTC
The Future of Work
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the landscape of work globally, propelling us into an era where the future of work is no longer confined to traditional office spaces; rather, it is shaped by remote realities and the emergence of hybrid work models. Remote work offers a unique set of opportunities and challenges in a country as diverse as Pakistan. The future of work is personal, and it is about fostering a balance that respects both professional and personal lives. The concept of hybrid work Models, blending in-person and remote work, is gaining traction globally. In a nutshell, the future of work in Pakistan is at a crossroad, presenting both challenges and opportunities.
Source:The Nation
November 28, 2023 17:12 UTC
Polls becoming PPP vs PML-N blocs’ affair
PPP supremo Asif Ali Zardari has predicted that the PPP and the PML-N might need each other when the results are finalised at the end of the polls. The PML-N was the early bird, as it tried to win the smaller parties in Sindh and Balochistan. As the nation goes to the elections, it will be the PPP bloc versus the PML-N bloc and after the polls, it may again surprisingly be the PPP bloc in coalition with the PML-N bloc to form a government. The PPP supremo believes that if the PPP and the PML-N fail to reach a power-sharing formula, the PPP might form a coalition government with the help of smaller parties pushing the PML-N on the opposition benches. While Sindh is a PPP stronghold, Zardari has close ties with several Baloch leaders who can possibly support the PPP in the polls.
Source:The Nation
November 28, 2023 16:27 UTC
Baltic nations’ foreign ministers pull out of OSCE meeting over Russian foreign minister attendance
While some cultural institutions are connected to mosques or churches, the club has been established as a completely autonomous entity. In Chile — which has the largest Palestinian community outside the Middle East, with an estimated 600,000 people — there are several Arab and Palestinian cultural centers and social clubs nationwide. “This year, the Palestinian ambassador to Santiago came to attend our event about the Nakba,” Gustavo Diban, the center’s president, told Arab News. Film distributors should acquire their rights,” Arthur Jafet, Icarabe’s national relations director and the curator of this year’s exhibit, told Arab News. We don’t sell anything, we only want to publicize Arab culture,” Icarabe’s President Murched Taha told Arab News.
Source:The Nation
November 28, 2023 13:51 UTC
On arguments and conclusions
Conclusions based on sound arguments fit facts like a wall-to-all carpet fits a room. For these reasons, arguments are even more important than the conclusions they lead to. To be continually mindful of the quality of one’s arguments is crucial because this consciousness helps one to improve (or replace) one’s argument when one realizes its deficiency or error. A focus on conclusions on the other hand leaves little motivation to critically review one’s arguments, especially when those conclusions are convenient and/or psychologically soothing. - Advertisement -There are two broad categories of men: those who are more focused on the quality of their arguments and those who are concerned more about the conclusions their arguments lead to.
Source:Pakistan Today
November 28, 2023 06:12 UTC
Equality unveiled
Gender equality is a foundational principle in society, ensuring that everyone has the right to live without discrimination based on creed or caste. It is essential to emphasise that women, like men, are human beings with equal rights to live without limitations imposed by others. Achieving gender equality necessitates treating both men and women equally, addressing the pervasive issue of inequality between the sexes. The path to true gender equality involves not only recognizing women as equals in domestic settings but also in the broader arenas of national decision-making. Working towards this vision will lead to a society where gender equality is not just a principle but a reality, fostering inclusivity and fairness for all.
Source:The Nation
November 28, 2023 03:17 UTC