Pakistan beat Maldives in Five-Nation Basketball
LAHORE - Pakistan beat Maldives by 65-63 points in the Five-Nation International Basketball Championship match at Male, Maldives. Pakistan played well and took a lead of 40-34 in the half time. The men in green continued to shine and won the match by 65-63. Zain ul Hasan Khan scored 22, Zia ur Rehman 15 and Imad Ahmed 13 for Pakistan, who will face Bhutan in the third match of the league round.
Source:The Nation
June 17, 2023 21:56 UTC
Bureaucrat Asad takes over NADRA reins
Asad Rehman Gilani on Friday assumed additional charge as the new chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), two days after his predecessor Tariq Malik resigned. In a tweet, the authority confirmed that Gilani — who is a grade 22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) and also the secretary of the Board of Investment — has joined the Nadra headquarters in Islamabad. The bureaucrat also visited the Nadra Regional Head Offices to review operational activities and directed the heads of all Nadra departments to clear the backlog of ID card printing by continuing to work over the weekend, Nadra added. Gilani’s appointment comes on the heels of Malik’s sudden resignation on June 14 — a year before the completion of his three-year term.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 17, 2023 21:33 UTC
Pakistan ends four-nation tournament without a win
Final score line of the match between Pakistan and Djibouti — screengrab via live streamPakistan on Saturday suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat in their last match against Djibouti, ranked 19th, during the four-nation cup in Mauritius. Despite equaliser chances, Pakistan failed to score a goal. With the victory over Pakistan, Djibouti won the four-nation cup tournament. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan could not win even a single match in the tournament. In the SAFF Cup, Pakistan have been bracketed with India in Pool A which also carries Kuwait and Nepal.
Source:The Nation
June 17, 2023 21:13 UTC
Cyclone Biparjoy converts into Depression, brings heavy rain
Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy has converted into a Depression and now lies over southwest Rajasthan in India and southeast Sindh (Tharparker), Met Office said in its report on Saturday. The cyclone over Rann of Kutch moved further northeastward during last 12 hours near Latitude 24.4°N and Longitude 71.2°E. Arabian Sea cyclone Biparjoy lashed southeastern districts of Sindh with heavy to very heavy rainfall in last 24 hours with Tharparker district focal point, receiving maximum rain. Light rain or drizzle may also be expected in Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Dadu, Jamshoro, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushahro Feroze, Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Jacobabad and Shikarpur districts today. Balochistan’s fishermen have been advised to resume fishing from today, while Sindh fishermen have been asked to venture into the sea from tomorrow.
Source:The Nation
June 17, 2023 13:43 UTC
Asif under fire after expatriate slur in NA
The Association of Physicians of Pakistani-Descent of North America (APPNA) has issued a stern condemnation of the recent remarks made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif in the National Assembly. In his speech, Asif stated, "English speakers sitting outside of Pakistan are saying that remittance will be stopped… remittances are sent by Gulf countries. These comments have drawn severe criticism from APPNA, which labeled them as "glaringly contemptuous" towards Pakistanis in North America and Europe. APPNA emphasised that the Pakistani diaspora living in the Western world, particularly North America, has always prioritised the welfare of Pakistan. The organization urged Asif to retract his comments and issue an apology to the millions of Pakistanis residing in North America and Europe.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 17, 2023 10:39 UTC
Shehbaz believes Nawaz will reshape Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan ‘fate lies in the hands of the IMF’, urging nation to pray for an agreement with the global lenders. PHOTO: TWITTER/PML-NPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his strong desire for the return of his elder brother, former premier Nawaz Sharif, to lead the country as prime minister for the fourth time. In his speech, PM Shehbaz said that he would hand over the party’s presidentship to Nawaz once he returns to Pakistan. Later, in a tweet, PM Shehbaz thanked Nawaz, party leaders, office-bearers and workers for electing him for the presidency of the party by expressing their confidence in him. The meeting was chaired by PML-N supremo Nawaz via video link and PML-N President Shehbaz.
Source:The Nation
June 17, 2023 10:38 UTC
China returns $1 billion loan: SBP
Pakistan’s central bank announced on Friday that it has received a $1 billion loan from China, bringing the country’s foreign exchange reserves back to over $4 billion. Earlier on Friday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had announced that Pakistan would receive a $1 billion Chinese commercial loan within 72 hours. Referring to a story published in The Express Tribune, Dar confirmed that Pakistan had paid off a $1 billion loan from the China Development Bank (CDB) earlier in the week. According to the finance minister, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) would receive the $1 billion either on Friday or the following Monday. Dar stated that similar treatment would be applied to the Bank of China loan, with early repayment and China returning the amount before June 30th.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 17, 2023 10:35 UTC
Shunning Dar's rant, govt seeks IMF support
Sources told The Express Tribune that the prime minister called an early morning meeting on Friday. The finance minister also had a meeting with the IMF Mission Chief early this week that also remained inconclusive. The Finance Ministry said that the coalition government has already taken many difficult and politically costly decisions in this context. It is for the first time that the finance ministry admitted that the external financing issue was outstanding. PM Shehbaz said that those pulling Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s legs and speaking against him have no right to stay in the PML-N.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 17, 2023 10:14 UTC
Political Maelstroms
Pakistan’s political history has been a captivating tale of upheaval and shift, molding a complex terrain for all its participants. As we venture into Pakistan’s political past, it becomes clear that these reverberations act as disturbing reminders of our unrealized potential, prodding us to tackle and vanquish the issues that have persistently beset our nation. Regrettably, these maneuvers have larger ramifications, not only deepening existing divisions but also expanding gaps between all political actors and intensifying the issues faced by Pakistan’s political sphere. In stitching together these disparate threads of understanding, we can construct a more cohesive image of the Pakistani political landscape. It is only then that the country can create a future where political maelstroms may serve as catalysts for change, rather than mere signposts of a turbulent past.
Source:The Nation
June 17, 2023 08:31 UTC
Thriving diaspora
Pakistan has the sixth-largest diaspora in the world, ranking among the roughly 272 million diaspora communities worldwide, according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Many industrialized nations view their diaspora as one of their most important strategic assets. Pakistani diaspora has produced some of the leading figures in business, sports, philanthropy, showbiz and film, and professional fields like higher education, research, medicine, IT, engineering, hospitality and even politics. The Pakistani diaspora is wise enough to recognize that violence has no place in a civilized society and that those who commit arson or vandalism are subject to harsh legal action by the state. The diaspora may honestly reflect upon the following questions:You have always stood by your nation in its hour of need.
Source:The Nation
June 17, 2023 08:03 UTC
Teamsters authorize strike at UPS
By Chase Holmes, News ReporterWASHINGTON — UPS Teamsters have voted with an overwhelming majority to go on strike should a new deal not be reached by the end of July on Friday, June 16. With its passing, it empowers the UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee to call a strike should UPS and the Teamsters fail to come to terms on a new contract by July 31. In the ongoing negotiations, UPS has conceded that all future delivery vans will come equipped with air conditioning. The Teamsters represent more than 340,000 UPS package delivery drivers and warehouse logistics workers across the country. The potential Teamsters strike comes on the heels of the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike which saw almost 12,000 writers go on strike across the country arguing for better terms for streamed content and restrictions on the usage of AI for writing.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 17, 2023 04:57 UTC
Nation should expect voting in new govt by Nov 10: PML-N
Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir on Friday said Pakistanis should be expectant of voting in a new government by November 10, affirming that 2023 was an election year. He made these remarks during an interview with a private TV channel when asked whether this was an election year. The energy minister’s statement is the clearest indication of a firm timeline for the elections coming from a member of the ruling PML-N yet. Meanwhile, Khurram Dastgir Khan said that government will earmark Rs.171 billion as Tariff Differential Subsidy (TDS) in new financial year to provide relief to citizens of Karachi. On another query, the minister clarified that government possessed 24% shares in K-Electric and appoint directors in the board proportionally.
Source:The Nation
June 17, 2023 04:21 UTC
Extreme Brutality
Pakistan’s Foreign Office, once again, expressed concerns about the confiscation of properties of Kashmiri activists in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The BJP government seems to continuously violate international laws in the region, and has waged a full-fledged war against the Kashmiris. Meanwhile, the international community stays mum on the issue. On top of this, laws like the Public Safety Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act are being used to detail individually illegally. India has been flagrantly violating international laws made specifically for the region of Kashmir, as well as globally agreed legislations like the Human Rights Charter.
Source:The Nation
June 17, 2023 03:28 UTC
Dar says no to IMF diktat
Dar made a sudden appearance and recorded his views on the IMF programme at the meeting that now seems meeting its unpleasant end. The PPP’s former finance minister, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, said on Thursday that he was in favour of completing the 9th review of the IMF programme. Under the IMF programme, Pakistan cannot give any type of tax amnesty scheme. The World Bank has also indicated giving a $450 million loan under the RISE-II programme but it is contingent upon the IMF good health of economy certificate, said Ishaq Dar. Dar made it clear that he did not make the new budget in consultation with the IMF.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 16, 2023 18:36 UTC
Foreign reserves climb to $4.01b
The research head was of the view that the critically low foreign exchange reserves would not allow improvement in the rupee-dollar exchange rate. photo: fileThe State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported a 2.65% increase in foreign exchange reserves on a weekly basis, with the total reaching $4.01 billion, according to data released on Thursday. As of June 9, 2023, the SBP’s foreign currency reserves stood at $4,018.7 million, marking a $107 million rise compared to $3,912.2 million on June 2. Ismail Iqbal Securities, Head of Research, Fahad Rauf pointed out that improvement in the country’s foreign reserves hinged upon the revival of the IMF programme and fresh financing from other multilateral and bilateral creditors. Rauf projected that the reserves were expected to further increase to approximately $7-8 billion by the end FY2023.
Source:The Express Tribune
June 16, 2023 18:20 UTC