ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based inflation for the week ended September 30, 2021 for the combined consumption group, witnessed a decrease of 0.10 per cent, compared with the previous week, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported. The food commodities that contributed in the decline in the weekly inflation included tomatoes, down 12.57 per … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The Consumer Price Index (CPI), based on monthly inflation, remained in a single-digit by witnessing an increase of 9 per cent during September 2021, compared with the corresponding month of the last year, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported. On a month-on-month basis, it increased 2.1 per cent in September 2021, compared with … Read more
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar presided over a review meeting of the newly-constituted joint working groups on science and information technology cooperation at the 10th Joint Coordination Committee. In the meeting, the four projects, including establishment of the China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on earth science; acquisition of oceanographic research … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The government is making all-out efforts to mitigate the impact of increased prices of commodities in the international market, an official said. Talking to newsmen outside the Parliament House along with Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said that the provinces have the responsibility … Read more
ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has urged the need for promoting higher education to put the country on the fast-track of socioeconomic development. He underscored the need for enhancing the volume of hybrid education, which was cost-effective and would help increase the number of highly educated and skilled professionals in the country. The president made … Read more
WASHINGTON: A top US official on Friday asked Pakistan to take action against all extremist groups ahead of a visit to Islamabad, which has sought reconciliation with militants both at home and in Afghanistan. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will meet on October 7-8 with officials in Pakistan. “We seek a strong partnership with … Read more
KARACHI: The Pakistan stocks witnessed a dull and range-bound activity on Friday, as the investors remained wary of selloff in the global equity markets, as well as high inflation numbers, dealers said. Ahsan Mehanti at Arif Habib Corp said that the stocks closed lower on global equity selloff and investors’ concerns over the reports of … Read more
Pharmaceutical company Merck said Friday it will seek authorisation in the US for an oral drug for Covid-19, after the pill showed “compelling results” in a clinical trial. The experimental drug, molnupiravir, significantly reduced the risk of hospitalisation or death when administered to high-risk patients early in the disease, Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics … Read more
TEHRAN: Three people were hurt on Friday when an earthquake struck southwestern Iran and caused some damage, the country’s official IRNA news agency said. The United States Geological Survey said the quake measuring a moderate 5.2 struck at 4:45 am (0115 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) near the port city of … Read more
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said the government would provide training of international standard to the staff of panahgahs — the government run shelter homes. PM Imran Khan said this while talking to Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar in Islamabad. He directed the concerned authorities to provide all the necessary … Read more
KARACHI: Germany is celebrating the 31th anniversary of German reunification on October 3, 2021, a statement said on Friday. This year is very special for both Pakistan and Germany, as they commemorate the 70th anniversary of cordial diplomatic ties. Due to the pandemic, the German missions in Pakistan must sadly once again refrain from the … Read more
BEIJING. The Bank of China (BOC), one of the country’s biggest lenders, has pledged to boost credit support for green projects in the 2021-25 period. The bank will provide at least 1 trillion yuan (around $154.2 billion) of funds for the green industry during the period, according to an action plan made by the BOC … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR: The headline IHS Markit Malaysia manufacturing purchasing managers’ Index (PMI), a composite single-figure indicator of manufacturing performance, rose to 48.1 in September from 43.4 in August, showing downturn in Malaysian manufacturing sector eases in September. According to an IHS Markit survey on Friday, businesses signaled that the Malaysian manufacturing sector continued to be … Read more
CANBERRA. Australia’s international borders will reopen in November after being closed for 18 months amid the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced that international travel to and from Australia will resume as states and territories approach 80 per cent of the adult population fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease. Under the reopening … Read more
KARACHI: The CDC Group (CDC), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, has made an anchor investment in Techxila Fund I, a fund managed by a local venture capital firm Fatima Gobi Ventures, a statement said on Friday. The CDC’s commitment will help boost Techxila Fund I’s investments in Pakistan-focused early stage startups, helping … Read more
KARACHI: The rupee recovered 18 paisas against the dollar on Friday, after restrictions were imposed through cash margin requirements on imports. The exchange rate ended at Rs170.48 against the dollar from the previous day’s closing of Rs170.66 in the interbank foreign exchange market. The local unit hit an all-time low of Rs170.66 on September 30, … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The government will launch the SME Policy next month with the focus on productivity enhancement and competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the local and global market to achieve sustainable development in the country, a senior official said. Addressing a seminar for women entrepreneurs on “Introduction to Productivity Journey and SMEs Fund … Read more
PYONGYANG. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) test-fired a newly developed anti-aircraft missile, the official Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday. According to the report, the missile was developed by the Academy of Defence Science, and the test was aimed at confirming the practicality of operation of the launcher, radar and comprehensive battle … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The government is absorbing the impact of the decade’s highest price-hike at the international level to provide relief to the people through various measures, including direct food subsidy to the poor, a senior official said on Friday. Addressing a press conference along with Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Farrukh Habib, Federal Minister … Read more
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon plans to rely on airstrikes to prevent a resurgence of Al-Qaeda now that US troops have left Afghanistan, but experts and some lawmakers are sceptical about the effectiveness of the so-called “over-the-horizon” strategy. Announcing the complete withdrawal of US troops in April, President Joe Biden vowed he would not allow a comeback … Read more
DUBAI: West Indies cricket star Chris Gayle has pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with “bubble fatigue” and will instead focus on this month’s T20 World Cup. The big-hitting 42-year-old batsman played two out of three matches for Punjab Kings since the big-bucks tournament resumed in the United Arab Emirates last month. Gayle … Read more
STOCKHOLM: Since 1901, the Nobel prizes have been awarded to men, women and organisations for work that has led to great advances for humankind, in line with the wishes of inventor Alfred Nobel. Here are five things to know about the prizes and their creator. A misunderstanding? On April 12, 1888, Alfred Nobel’s elder brother Ludvig … Read more
The coronavirus pandemic claimed 56 more lives across the country over the past 24 hours, data issued from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed on Friday. In the last 24 hours, Pakistan also reported 1,411 fresh infections, taking the total number of virus cases to 1,246,538. The NCOC said that the total number … Read more
KARACHI: President Dr Arif Alvi has said that Pakistan was making a lot of efforts for sustainability of the marine sector by reducing sea pollution. He expressed these views, while addressing a ceremony via video-link from Islamabad. The ceremony was organised in connection with the World Maritime Day 2021 by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. … Read more
BRUSSELS: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched ‘Roshan Apna Ghar’ Scheme for non-resident Pakistanis for acquisition of residential and commercial properties in the country, a diplomat said. During the 9th Khuli Katchery, organised by the Pakistan Embassy in Brussels, in a virtual format with the Diaspora in Belgium, and Luxembourg, Ambassador of Pakistan … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The October calendar of the Pakistan Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai was released, and it is sure to stir excitement, with cultural, historical, and business events running throughout the grand event’s opening month. The focus of the first month at the pavilion will be Balochistan. Each day will offer visitors a different and … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The government has enhanced the petrol prices by Rs4/litre after making adjustments in the sales tax and petroleum levy, a statement issued by the Finance Ministry said. The new prices would be effective from October 1 for the next fortnight, it added. Accordingly, petrol would be sold at Rs127.30/litre against its existing sale at … Read more
KARACHI: The parent company of Naya Nazimabad, Javedan Corporation Limited (JCL), has received an amount of Rs1 billion from Habib Bank Limited (HBL) under the SBP’s Islamic Refinance Facility at zero per cent markup for the construction of Naya Nazimabad Hospital, a statement said. Naya Nazimabad had initially planned to construct this hospital in 2025 … Read more
