ISLAMABAD: Physical access to the internet or a device was the biggest barrier to digital learning across the world. This was the crux of a report published by the Oxford University Press (OUP) and contains the views of 1,557 school and English language teachers from 92 countries, including Pakistan on the digital divide, the barriers … Read more
BRUSSELS: The European Union’s second highest court on Wednesday shot down an appeal by Google against a €2.4 billion ($2.8 billion) fine imposed by Brussels for abusing its search engine dominance. The ruling by the Luxembourg-based General Court confirmed the landmark decision taken by the European Commission in 2017. The matter could be challenged again; … Read more
A senior delegation of the Taliban government led by the interim Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will arrive in Islamabad today, confirmed the Afghan foreign ministry spokesperson on Wednesday. “Today a senior delegation of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will reach Islamabad and meet with Pakistani officials as well as participants of Troika Plus meeting,” … Read more
LAHORE: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday labelled the Rs2.52 per unit increase in electricity tariff another “heartless and cruel” move of the PTI government. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) reminded the people that he had warned that PTI was doing a “blatant fraud” by introducing the “so-called tax-free budget”. He … Read more
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday confirmed that England will play two additional men’s Twenty20 Internationals to the five T20Is originally planned when they will tour Pakistan in September/October 2022. The decision was announced following a meeting between England and Wales Cricket Board Chief Executive Tom Harrison and PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja. The men’s … Read more
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa remarked on Tuesday that “self-reliance in defence production is a hallmark of any country”, and lauded Heavy Industries Taxila of the “milestones achieved” towards self-sufficiency. “Self-reliance in defence production is the hallmark of any country and we are proud of the milestones achieved towards that … Read more
KARACHI: An international centre at the University of Karachi has launched a digital healthcare platform designed to provide medical care to patients assisted by artificial intelligence. “The development of the digital health care journey platform, namely ‘Health Hands’ in the ICCBS Technology Park and Technology Incubation Centre (ICCBS-TPTIC), International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The government is committed to complete structural reforms in multiple areas of the economy, including energy, capital markets, trade competitiveness, domestic resource mobilisation and governance, a senior official said on Tuesday. Talking to Eugenue Zukhov, director general, Central and West Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the chairman and members of Sindh Public Service Commission to continue working till a verdict on their appeals is issued. The apex court accepted the petition against the annulment of the appointment of chairman and members of the Sindh Public Service Commission. The officers and employees had lost … Read more
KARACHI: Pakistan stocks observed a bloodbath session where banking, technology, and E&P sectors cumulatively eroded 273 points from the index, dealers said on Tuesday. An analyst at Pearl Securities said massive profit-taking was triggered by the already delayed International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the rupee depreciation and uncontrolled inflation, which continuously impacted the country’s economic … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2020/25. The STPF 2020/25 aims at enhancing the ability of Pakistani enterprises’ capacity to produce, distribute and sell products and services as or more efficiently than their competitors. The following priority sectors have been identified under the framework after studying the international … Read more
KARACHI: The Ministry of Energy has moved a summary to the Federal Cabinet for ending subsidised gas rates for industries, including captive power plants, which would likely increase the prices, Topline Securities reported in a research on Tuesday. Any increase in subsidised re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) price would significantly impact the Punjab-based textile players … Read more
KARACHI: The rupee fell sharply by Rs1.12 against the dollar on Tuesday, owing to the demand for external payments, dealers said. The exchange rate ended at Rs171.63 against the greenback from the previous day’s closing of Rs170.51 in the interbank foreign exchange market. It was the second straight session when the rupee witnessed a decline. … Read more
ISLAMABAD: As a humanitarian crisis unfolds in Afghanistan, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced on Tuesday that Pakistan is trying to hold an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers conference in Islamabad to appeal to the Muslim Ummah to help the war-torn country. “We are also trying to hold an OIC foreign ministers conference in … Read more
LONDON: UK aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce launched plans on Tuesday to build small low-cost nuclear reactors, backed with private and public cash, to help reduce the country’s carbon emissions. Rolls-Royce has created a new Small Modular Reactor (SMR) division after clinching a cash injection of £405 million ($547 million, €473 million), it said in a … Read more
KARACHI: Tax practitioners have suggested measures for implementation of electronic filing of sales tax and federal excise duty appeals. The Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) has sent its proposals to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) before the implementation of the e-filing of appeals. The tax bar suggested that the taxpayers should get online acknowledgment … Read more
KARACHI: Raja Azhar is a prominent activist and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf member of the Sindh Assembly. Here he talks to Bol News about prevailing national issues, particularly inflation, as well as his party’s prospects in Sindh’s electoral landscape. Q: How would PTI counter inflation? I agree that we have failed to counter inflation and as a result the … Read more
TEHRAN: Iran’s military warned off two US drones which overflew waters where it was holding naval war games near the strategic Strait of Hormuz this week, state media reported Tuesday. The unmanned aircraft entered “two Iranian air defence identification zones… and changed course after air defence warned them it had decided to intercept them,” the … Read more
BEIJING: China’s passenger car production declined 4.1 per cent on a year-on-year basis in October, while the sales fell 13.9 per cent from a year ago, data from an industry association showed on Monday. Bucking the trend, the country’s sales of new-energy passenger vehicles soared 141.1 per cent on a year-on-year basis to 321,000 units … Read more
ISLAMABAD: Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) chairman Amer Ahmed Hashmi called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday, a statement said. The STZA chairman briefed the prime minister on the progress of the technology zone vis-à-vis Islamabad Technopolis, interest of national and international companies in investing in Pakistan, and signing of the memoranda of understanding … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has given its consent to contribute from the divisible pool of the National Finance Commission for the development of the ex-Federally-administered Tribal Areas (Fata) districts. Provincial Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht said this in a meeting with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin at the … Read more
KARACHI: The matriculation results of Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) have surprised the stakeholders of the education sector as dozens of students across the city secured full marks in the 850-mark examination. Moreover, thousands of other students secured A grade and B grade in the annual examinations. Haroon Siddique, whose son bagged 95 per cent … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) cleared three development projects with a cost of Rs9.2 billion and recommended two projects worth Rs130 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for further consideration. The CDWP meeting was presided over by Planning Commission deputy chairman Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan in which projects related … Read more
Hira Mani has never shied away from penning down her love for her family and fans both. Overwhelmed after winning an IPPA award for ‘star of the year,’ the starlet took to Instagram to pen down a heartfelt note going back to her father’s words: Hira Jamal tum mera real star ho. View this … Read more
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday directed the builder of Makkah Terrace in the Saddar area of Karachi to arrange accommodation for the residents of the building till its illegally constructed part is demolished and is declared safe. The order was passed by a two-judge bench headed by Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput while hearing … Read more
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced on Monday that a “complete ceasefire” between the government and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been agreed upon after talks were held between the two parties. “Negotiations between the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan are being held under the Constitution of Pakistan. Under the agreement, a complete ceasefire has been agreed,” … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The political leadership of the country were informed on Monday that Pakistan would provide “all-out support” to the Taliban government in Kabul for the “peace and stability” of Afghanistan. The statement came after the Parliamentary Committee on National Security met under the chairmanship of National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser at the Parliament House. The … Read more
