Print - 2020-01-19
Rs 384.3 billion released under PSDP

Rs 384.3 billion released under PSDP

The federal government has released Rs 384.3 billion (54.82 per cent) including Rs 64.69 billion foreign aid (50.4 percent) for various ongoing and new development projects under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2019-20 against the total budge
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Ghulam Sarwar dispels rumors of regime change

Ghulam Sarwar dispels rumors of regime change

Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Saturday said that the incumbent government is here to stay and all rumors and hearsays regarding a possible regime change are untrue.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Dar urges SC to fix his petition for hearing

Dar urges SC to fix his petition for hearing

Former finance minister Ishaq Dar has prayed to the Supreme Court to suspend the operation of Accountability Court order dated 21-11-2017, the proclamation issued and any proceeding, step or action taken to sell his properties.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Punjab withdraws ban on wheat transportation

Punjab withdraws ban on wheat transportation

KP Informa-tion Minister Shaukat Ali Yousafzai has said that there is no shortage of flour in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the government of Punjab has withdrawn ban on the transportation of flour outside its limits.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
PM orders crackdown on hoarders, profiteers

PM orders crackdown on hoarders, profiteers

Taking notice of reports regarding an illegal rise in prices of wheat flour, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday ordered a country-wide crackdown on hoarder and profiteers.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Wheat flour prices shoot up by Rs5/kg

Wheat flour prices shoot up by Rs5/kg

Wheat flour prices rose sharply by Rs 5 per kilogramme following shortage of the commodity in the domestic market.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Combined income group: SPI inflation down 0.18 percent WoW

Combined income group: SPI inflation down 0.18 percent WoW

Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) based weekly inflation for the combined income group during the week ended January 16 witnessed a reduction of 0.18 percent against the week ended January 9, 2020 while on an annual basis it witnessed an increase of 20.02 p
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Tareen says 0.4 million tons of wheat to be imported

Tareen says 0.4 million tons of wheat to be imported

The federal government has decided in principle to import up to 0.4 million tons of duty-free wheat to avert the flour crisis in the country. Talking to mediapersons at MQM-P's Headquarters here Saturday, Jahangir Tareen senior leader PTI said the governm
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Lebanon protesters lob traffic signs

Lebanon protesters lob traffic signs

Tensions flared in Lebanon's capital Saturday as angry protesters flung stones, traffic signs and tree branches at security forces, who responded with water canons and tear gas.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Libya oil exports blocked

Libya oil exports blocked

Forces loyal to Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar blocked oil exports from the war-ravaged country's main ports Saturday, raising the stakes on the eve of an international summit aimed at bringing peace to the North African nation.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Up to 15 percent increase in gas prices proposed

Up to 15 percent increase in gas prices proposed

Petroleum Division has reportedly proposed an increase of up to 15 percent in gas prices for different categories of consumers' to be effective from January 1, 2020 against Ogra's recommendations of 214 percent raise, well-informed sources told Busines
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
CDNS to be insulated against ill-gotten money, terror financing

CDNS to be insulated against ill-gotten money, terror financing

Finance Division through promulgation of National Savings Schemes (AML-CFT) Rules, 2019 has decided to engage an AML-CFT compliant bank, through competitive bidding, to put in place the requirement as well as the necessary training of employees of Central
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Wells to arrive today

Wells to arrive today

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells is due to arrive in Islamabad on Sunday on a 4-day visit to Pakistan for talks on bilateral and regional matters.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Prince Harry, Meghan to give up royal titles

Prince Harry, Meghan to give up royal titles

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have agreed to give up their royal titles and stop receiving public funds as part of a settlement with the Queen that lets them spend more private time in Canada. The announcement from Buckingham Palace on Saturd
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Xi stands with Myanmar despite Rohingya genocide accusations

Xi stands with Myanmar despite Rohingya genocide accusations

China's Xi Jinping doubled down on his support for fallen rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday, signing dozens of infrastructure and trade deals and meeting with the Myanmar army chief accused of overseeing a genocide against Rohingya Muslims.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
FBR can adopt Indian taxmen's pattern

FBR can adopt Indian taxmen's pattern

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation Inland Revenue (IR) can alert it's field formations to check sales tax frauds by jewellers community on the pattern of multi-million tax evasion committed by a racket of jewe
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
PIA downsizing on the cards

PIA downsizing on the cards

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has finalised a downsizing plan in the coming few years by stopping induction of new recruits, making 1,500 employees who are involved in disciplinary cases or fake degree issues redundant and formulating a voluntary
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Four killed in Utah home shooting: police

Four killed in Utah home shooting: police

Four people were killed and another wounded in a shooting at a home in Utah on Friday night, with the suspect taken into custody, police and media reported.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
PM refuses to replace Buzdar

PM refuses to replace Buzdar

Prime Minister Imran Khan has reportedly once again refused to replace Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar despite severe criticism from both within the PTI and coalition partner Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) over sustained governance issues and lac
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Sindh body of APNS rejects federal govt's policy

Sindh body of APNS rejects federal govt's policy

The Sindh Committee of All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) has condemned the imposition of federal government's advertisement 'cartelization' policy which has created new financial and survival challenge for the industry, particularly the Sindh-based ne
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Qureshi reaffirms Pak-Qatari close ties

Qureshi reaffirms Pak-Qatari close ties

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday visited Doha and called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
'Price rationalization'
Letters

'Price rationalization'

In the first part of his multi-part series of articles titled "Price rationalization", Dr Omer Javed has argued among other things that "Government intervention- especially in developing countries like Pakistan, where markets are traditionally weak due to
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Open up imports to expand exports
Articles

Open up imports to expand exports

There are signs of shift in economic thinking from 'inward oriented' to 'outward oriented'. Dr Reza Baqir presented the case at a conference last week. Pakistan consumption based growth averaging at 3.5-4 percent (2001-18) is similar to top 25 percent eme
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Wrong resistance

Wrong resistance

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is at it again. Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi on Thursday, he reiterated his threat to launch countrywide protests against the government's education reforms agenda for seminaries that is also to cover all p
Updated 20 Jan, 2020 06:21am
UNSC recognises gravity of Kashmir situation

UNSC recognises gravity of Kashmir situation

Despite New Delhi's strenuous attempts against it the UN Security Council did meet on Thursday and reportedly "recognised seriousness of prevailing situation" in Indian-held Kashmir. It was the UN apex body's second closed-door meeting on Kashmir in month
Updated 20 Jan, 2020 06:21am
Prices of essential kitchen items on the rise

Prices of essential kitchen items on the rise

Prices of essential kitchen items, excluding some vegetables, have witnessed yet another increasing trend during this week past against the preceding week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Tax appeals: ATIR rules provide for separate procedure: bench
Taxes

Tax appeals: ATIR rules provide for separate procedure: bench

A full bench of the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) Islamabad has highlighted that Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue Rules, 2010 have vividly provided separate procedure for filing and hearing of main appeal as well as filing and disposal of stay
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Sanaullah voices concern over soaring inflation

Sanaullah voices concern over soaring inflation

Expressing concern over soaring inflation in the country, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab President Rana Sanaullah Saturday said that price hike has made it harder for the people to buy food for even two times a day.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Munno Bhai remembered on his 2nd death anniversary

Munno Bhai remembered on his 2nd death anniversary

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has paid tributes to late Munno Bhai for dedicating his life to the cause of ailing humanity while his services for the welfare of leukemia patients were unforgettab
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Inadequate gas supply: Industrialists slam SSGC for poor gas supply

Inadequate gas supply: Industrialists slam SSGC for poor gas supply

It is a great apathy and irony that SSGC has not kept its promise to restore adequate gas supply with required pressure to the Industries of Karachi which was decided in the negotiations and dialogue held with the MD SSGC subsequent to peaceful protest of
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Ghani vows to approach legal forum against 'conspiring' police officers

Ghani vows to approach legal forum against 'conspiring' police officers

Sindh Minister for Information, Archives and Labour Saeed Ghani on Saturday vowed to approach every legal forum against the police officers who according to him were conspiring against the Sindh government. The provincial Minister for Information said he
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Mughalpura dry port to be opened next week: Rashid

Mughalpura dry port to be opened next week: Rashid

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has claimed that Mughalpura dry port will be opened next week for freight operations service from Lahore to Karachi. While addressing a press conference at the Railway headquarters on Saturday, he said tha
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Flour price hike

Flour price hike

Commissioner Mirpurkhas Division and Deputy Commissioner Tharparkar Dr Shahzad Tahir Thaheem had taken serious notice of the price hike in essential food items especially flour.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
SKMCH Lahore gets fifth radiotherapy machine

SKMCH Lahore gets fifth radiotherapy machine

Department of Clinical and Radiation Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) Lahore, is now equipped with state-of-the-art therapy machines. The facility has been upgraded with addition of fifth innovative radiothe
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Carjacking on the rise in Capital

Carjacking on the rise in Capital

The incidents of carjacking and various kinds of theft witnessed an increase in the heavily-guarded federal capital as over eight cases of car lifting and five cases of theft were reported to various police stations of the city during the last week.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Minister slams Fawad's utterances against Punjab government

Minister slams Fawad's utterances against Punjab government

Provincial Minister of Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Social Welfare Raja Basharat on Saturday condemned the criticism of Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry on the performance of the Punjab government saying that it was not based on facts.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
PFMA blames Punjab govt for flour price hike

PFMA blames Punjab govt for flour price hike

Flour shortage and increase in its prices continued to haunt the provincial and city district governments on Saturday while 'chakki' owners remained stubborn to sell flour at Rs 70 per kilogram.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Skardu shudders in minus 20º Celsius

Skardu shudders in minus 20º Celsius

Temperature slumped to minus 20 degrees Celsius in Skardu over the past 24 hours as the Met Office on Saturday forecast a very cold weather for the northern areas.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Indian diplomat again summoned over LoC violations

Indian diplomat again summoned over LoC violations

Pakistan on Saturday once again summoned Indian Charge d'Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia to register a strong protest at the ceasefire violations by Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in serious injuries to a civilian lady, Fore
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Kashmir issue not an internal affair of India: FM

Kashmir issue not an internal affair of India: FM

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi while addressing a press conference at Pakistan Embassy in Washington to Friday said that Kashmir issue is not an internal affair of India. Speaking on the occasion, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the United Nations S
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Senate body briefed on NARC's research activities

Senate body briefed on NARC's research activities

The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research Saturday urged high-ups of National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) to focus on commercialization so that farmers can benefit from its research activities.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
MIPD announces 100 percent result of 'CICTL' Cohort 3

MIPD announces 100 percent result of 'CICTL' Cohort 3

Upholding the legacy of extraordinary results in the International Certifications, The Millennium Education, Pakistan and Millennium Institute of Professional Development (MIPD) Saturday announced 100 percent result of 'Cambridge International Certificate
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
US ex-congressman jailed 2 years for insider trading

US ex-congressman jailed 2 years for insider trading

Former US lawmaker Chris Collins, President Donald Trump's first supporter in Congress, was sentenced Friday to more than two years in jail for his role in an insider trading scheme.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Tear gas, arrests in new anti-Macron demo in Paris

Tear gas, arrests in new anti-Macron demo in Paris

French police fired tear gas under a rain of projectiles and arrested dozens of people on Saturday as thousands of "yellow vest" anti-government protesters returned to the streets of Paris.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Disney drops 'Fox' name from 20th Century film studio

Disney drops 'Fox' name from 20th Century film studio

Disney will rename 20th Century Fox to distance its legendary film studio from the assets of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, US media reported Friday. The entertainment conglomerate last year acquired most of the assets of 21st Century Fox group, including t
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Maduro announces opening of cryptocurrency casino

Maduro announces opening of cryptocurrency casino

Venezuela will open a casino where all bets must be placed in the country's ailing "petro" cryptocurrency, President Nicolas Maduro said Friday, overturning a ban on casinos in place since 2011.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Filipinos turn volcano's ash, plastic trash into bricks

Filipinos turn volcano's ash, plastic trash into bricks

Ash spewed by a Philippine volcano is being mixed with plastic waste to make bricks in an inventive response to the country's persistent problems of pollution and frequent natural disasters.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Investors expect strong demand for 20-year Treasuries
Money & Banking

Investors expect strong demand for 20-year Treasuries

The US is likely to see solid demand for its first sale of 20-year bonds in more than three decades, investors and analysts said Friday, as the Treasury Department looks for fresh ways to raise revenues in the face of yawning budget deficits.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
HSBC cutting around 100 staff in equities business
Money & Banking

HSBC cutting around 100 staff in equities business

HSBC is cutting around 100 roles in its equities business with the bulk of the layoffs falling on its continental European trading floors, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The cuts are across the bank's equities research, sales, trading and
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Wall Street hits new highs in strongest week since August
Stocks

Wall Street hits new highs in strongest week since August

Wall Street climbed to record highs on Friday, with major indexes turning in their strongest weekly gains since August, after strong US housing data and signs of resilience in the Chinese economy raised hopes of a rebound in global growth. Market sentimen
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Indonesia raises $512 million from Islamic bonds
Money & Banking

Indonesia raises $512 million from Islamic bonds

Indonesia raised 7 trillion rupiah ($512.26 million) in a biweekly Islamic bond auction on Tuesday, in line with an indicative target, according to the financing and risk management office at the Finance Ministry. Total incoming bids for Tuesday's auction
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Speculators cut long dollar bets to 19-month low
Money & Banking

Speculators cut long dollar bets to 19-month low

Speculators cut their net long bets on the US dollar in the latest week to the smallest position in 19 months, according to calculations by Reuters and US Commodity Futures Trading Commission data released on Friday. The value of the net long dollar posit
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Canadian dollar weakens
Money & Banking

Canadian dollar weakens

The Canadian dollar weakened against its US counterpart on Friday, as the greenback broadly rose and investors saw risk that the Bank of Canada would remark on the loonie's recent appreciation at an interest rate decision next week.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Asia's dollar bond issuance off to record start in 2020
Money & Banking

Asia's dollar bond issuance off to record start in 2020

US dollar bond issuance in Asia hit a record high in the first two weeks of 2020, data showed, as companies and governments took advantage of low interest rates to shore up capital. China's Evergrande, the mainland's third-largest property developer, was
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
CBOT soyabean hits one month low
Commodities

CBOT soyabean hits one month low

Chicago Board of Trade soyabean futures closed lower on Thursday on doubts about whether China will make the purchases from the United States promised in a trade deal between the two countries, analysts said.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Modest trade activity seen on cotton market
Cotton & Textile

Modest trade activity seen on cotton market

Modest trade activity was witnessed on the cotton market on Saturday as the ginners preferred to keep on the sideline after the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) expected fortnightly report, dealers said.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Tunisia tenders to buy wheat and barley
Commodities

Tunisia tenders to buy wheat and barley

Tunisia's state grains agency has issued an international tender to purchase around 117,000 tonnes of durum wheat, 100,000 tonnes of soft wheat and 75,000 tonnes of animal feed barley, European traders said on Thursday.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Taiwan buys 99,075 tonnes of US wheat
Commodities

Taiwan buys 99,075 tonnes of US wheat

The Taiwan Flour Millers' Association purchased 99,075 tonnes of milling wheat to be sourced from the United States in a tender seeking the same volume which closed on Thursday, European traders said.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Farhan wins National Senior Squash Championship
Other

Farhan wins National Senior Squash Championship

World No. 76 Farhan Zaman of Pakistan Air Force took no time in eliminating his young and upcoming rival Noor Zaman in final of the All Pakistan National Senior Squash Championship played here at PAF Hashim Khan Squash Complex Saturday.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Bess spins England closer to series lead
Other

Bess spins England closer to series lead

Rookie off-spinner Dom Bess claimed his first Test five-wicket haul as England moved into a strong position on the third day of the third Test against South Africa at St George's Park on Saturday. Bess took the first five wickets as South Africa struggled
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Barty wins Adelaide International
Other

Barty wins Adelaide International

Ashleigh Barty ended a nine-year Australian home title drought on Saturday with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska at the Adelaide International. The world number one became the first Aussie woman to lift a trophy on a home court since Ja
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Bangladesh call up uncapped Hasan for Pakistan tour
Cricket

Bangladesh call up uncapped Hasan for Pakistan tour

Bangladesh on Saturday called up uncapped fast bowler Hasan Mahmud for their three-match Twenty20 series in Pakistan which has been engulfed by fears over player safety. Opener Tamim Iqbal returns after skipping a home series against Afghanistan and Zimba
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
India's bowler Bapu Nadkarni dies
Cricket

India's bowler Bapu Nadkarni dies

India's most economic bowler Bapu Nadkarni, who also held England at bay as a batsman in a landmark Test series has died at the age of 86. "Indian cricket has lost a real champion," said batting legend Sunil Gavaskar after learning of Nadkarni's death in
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Pakistan begin U-19 World Cup Cricket campaign
Cricket

Pakistan begin U-19 World Cup Cricket campaign

Pakistan, who won their second and last ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 14 years ago, will launch their Group-C campaign in the 2020 edition when they will take on Scotland in Potchefstroom, South Africa, on Sunday (today).
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
China buys US soyabeans ahead of Phase 1 signing ceremony
Commodities

China buys US soyabeans ahead of Phase 1 signing ceremony

Chinese buyers booked deals to buy 126,000 tonnes of US soyabeans, the US Agriculture Department said on Wednesday. The announcement comes just hours before the two countries are set to sign a Phase 1 deal in Washington aimed at defusing the trade war bet
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
China's US crude buying binge to set off global sweet oil shake-up
Energy

China's US crude buying binge to set off global sweet oil shake-up

Sharply higher Chinese purchases of US energy products as part of the China-US trade deal will shake up global crude oil trade flows if American supplies squeeze rival crudes out of the top oil import market, trade sources said.
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Your rupee last quarter

Your rupee last quarter

Following currency fluctuations took place in foreign exchange rates during the last quarter. (October 1 to December 31, 2019)

Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Automart: car prices in Karachi

Automart: car prices in Karachi

The prices of different makes and models of cars prevailing in Karachi in the week ended Saturday (January 18, 2020).

Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
The Weather

The Weather

The weather report on Saturday (January 18, 2020) and the forecast for Sunday (January 19, 2020).

Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Bullion Rates

Bullion Rates

Gold and silver rates in rupees per 10 grams prevailing in major cities on Saturday (January 18, 2020).

Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Cotton Spot Rates

Cotton Spot Rates

Official KCA spot rates for local dealings in Pakistan rupees on Saturday (January 18, 2020).

Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am