KARACHI: Pakistan’s largest digital bank, Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL) has successfully retained its market standing as a leader in terms of microcredit and micro-savings during the third quarter of the financial year 2021, as per the latest report released by the Pakistan Microfinance Network. MicroWatch, a quarterly update on microfinance outreach in Pakistan, in … Read more
WASHINGTON, President Joe Biden will mark World AIDS Day on Wednesday with a speech laying out his vision for ending the epidemic in the United States by 2030. The White House said Biden will deliver a speech outlining the plan for “redoubling efforts to confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic.” The target is for a 75 percent … Read more
BARCELONA: A four-month-old baby and his three-year-old brother died with their parents on Tuesday when a fire ripped through an abandoned bank where the family was squatting in Barcelona, in a blaze denounced as “horrific” by the Spanish city’s mayor. Read more: Pakistan-origin family attacked in Canada, FM raises issue with Canadian Counterpart Chief firefighter … Read more
NADI, Fiji: Grass-skirted traditional dancers welcomed elated holidaymakers back to Fiji on Wednesday, as the South Pacific nation opened its borders to international travellers for the first time since the pandemic began. Fiji Airways flight FJ914 from Sydney touched down at Nadi Airport at 11.40am (2340 Tuesday GMT), ending 615 days of international isolation for the … Read more
SYDNEY: Pandemic-induced lockdowns caused Australia’s economy to shrink 1.9 per cent in the third quarter, a downturn that bucked the trend of a steady recovery in other wealthy nations. The Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday reported the country’s second quarterly contraction since the pandemic began — and one of the largest contractions on record … Read more
ISLAMABAD: Even though youth make the largest chunk of Pakistan’s population and registered voters in 18 to 29 years legion form the largest of all age cohorts, youth voter turnout remains abysmally low in Pakistan, said the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) in a statement on Tuesday. Read more: ECP begins preparations … Read more
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia confirmed on Wednesday its first case of the Covid-19 Omicron variant on a passenger coming from Africa, state news agency SPA reported. The passenger, along with those he was in contact with, has been isolated, SPA added. The spread of the latest strain comes as Saudi Arabia’s ban on direct travel from several countries ended, … Read more
The National Command and Operations Center on Wednesday approved booster dose administration for three categories including healthcare workers, citizens above 50 years and immunocompromised persons. The NCOC meeting held virtually chaired by Minister for Planning Asad Umar and co-chaired by National Coordinator Major General Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and SAPM Dr Faisal Sultan stated that the … Read more
TOKYO: Japan has asked airlines to stop taking new incoming flight bookings over concerns about the Omicron virus variant, the transport ministry said on Wednesday. The announcement came as authorities announced they had detected a second infection with the new strain in an arriving traveler, a day after confirming a first case. “We have asked … Read more
GENEVA, International migration rose last year despite the dramatic impact of the Covid pandemic on migration patterns, including restrictions blocking many from crossing borders, the United Nations said Wednesday. In a fresh report, the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the number of international migrants grew to 281 million in 2020, or 3.6 percent … Read more
UNITED NATIONS: Ambassador Munir Akram on Tuesday said that he would work on the basis of “transparency, inclusivity and objectivity” in promoting the group’s interests and objectives after Pakistan was elected by acclamation, as chairman of the Group of 77 and China for 2022. “We are honoured to be elected as the chairman of the … Read more
Actor Aijaz Aslam’s father passed away last night, confirmed Adnan Siddiqui on his Instagram story on Tuesday. Adnan wrote that he was saddened to inform you that Aslam’s father passed away a while ago. “Keep the family in your prayers. May Allah grant him Jannah in the highest place,” he added. Read more: Actress Juvaria … Read more
After keeping viewers excited and intrigued, Saba Qamar has finally revealed the first look of her upcoming project Naina Ki Sharafat. Read more: Saba Qamar sizzles in a teal blue leather jacket The starlet took to Instagram to share her first appearance. Naina Ki Sharafat is a web series that she signed in August earlier … Read more
KARACHI: Pakistan’s exports in November surpassed the target $2.6 billion set by the government for the month, an adviser to the Prime Minister tweeted on Wednesday. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Trade Razak Dawood said that Pakistan’s exports during November reached the historic monthly high of $2.903 billion, up by 33 per … Read more
Asim Azhar is all set to release his first solo song featuring Saba Qamar and Fahad Mustafa in the video. Read more: Saba Qamar enjoys the power of music The singer made the announcement on Twitter: “Ladies and gentlemen.. I waited so long for this moment and finally.. my first single from the album releasing … Read more
Priyanka Chopra is known for her fashion sense. The diva was the center of attraction at the British Fashion Awards 2021 where she dazzled in a black outfit by Richard Quinn. Read more: Priyanka Chopra’s fans defend her on ‘what acting career’ roast View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priyanka … Read more
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday claimed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – the two major opposition parties in the country – had no agenda. Read more: PPP will restore democracy in the country, vows Bilawal In a clear reference to the PPP’s public meeting in … Read more
Model Sauleha Imtiaz appologised to the Sikh community for hurting their sentiments after pictures of her at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur were widely criticised on social media. The model in question has now deleted the photos and issued an apology on her Instagram account. Read more: Netizen Blasts at Fashion Brand Photo-shoot in Kartarpur … Read more
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ban on direct travel from a number of countries came to an end on Wednesday, as the country continues to relax travel restrictions caused by the pandemic, Arab News reported. Travellers from six countries including India, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil and Vietnam can now arrive in the Kingdom without having to spend 14 days … Read more
LAHORE: A delegation of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) visited Punjab Safe Cities Authority at Qurban Lines on Tuesday. Read more: Punjab police develop women safety app, says Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan COO PSCA Muhammad Kamran Khan received the six-member delegation and discussed agenda points such as women safety … Read more
Karachi: The secretary of Sindh Bar Council and prominent lawyer Irfan Mehr was shot dead by target killers on a motorcycle near Ayesha Masjid in the Gulistan-e-Johar are on Wednesday morning. According to preliminary investigation, the police believe that the incident was a result of a targetted killing. Read More: Rangers, police nab three suspected … Read more
BEIJING: Pakistan is one of the most exciting technology ecosystems globally right now, attracting more capital at a faster pace than many other emerging markets. This was stated by Ben Harburg, managing partner of MSA Capital, while addressing a seminar titled “China-Pakistan: The Way Forward” hosted by the Center for China and Globalisation (CCG), a … Read more
LAHORE: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Rao Sardar Ali Khan has decided to implement a seven-point guideline to provide the masses hassle-free services at police stations across the province. According to the first point of the SoP, related to case management, entry of every person in the police station shall be recorded in a … Read more
ISLAMABAD: The government is making all-out efforts to reduce inflation, a senior government official said. Talking to a private news channel, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar said that inflation has become a global challenge due to the Covid-19 because it has fluctuated big economic powers of the world. Edible … Read more
PESHAWAR: Athletes from Peshawar, Swat, Khyber, Karak and Charsadda won gold medals in different events of the under-21 games played at the Peshawar Sports Complex. In weightlifting, Swat’s Roohullah surprised everyone with a first-ever gold medal for his district on the first day of the event. Read more: Inter-district Under-21 tournament kickoffs in Peshawar Zain, … Read more
KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) plans to create a dedicated Customs Colectorate for the processing of liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other liquids, as well as solid bulk cargo imports. The Collectorate, namely, MCC Appraisement (Bulk) in Karachi, will deal with the cargo clearance of bulk petroleum products, edible … Read more
ISLAMABAD: Islamic finance is one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the global financial system, as it has emerged as an effective tool for financing development worldwide, including in non-Muslim countries, a senior government official said. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin virtually addressed the 10th Islamic Finance Expo … Read more
LAHORE: The board of directors of the Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC) has approved the construction of new 132KV grid stations in Multan and Sundar Industrial Estate and the payment of bank guarantee and annual fee to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for the distribution licence in Vehari Industrial Estate, … Read more
