Pakistan’s juice maker draws international clients

Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed & Company (IAC), a leading fresh juice and pulp producing company, has attracted international clients at the Gulf Food & Beverages Exhibition.

The event, which ended on February 24, drew businessmen from 125 countries and featured products from over 5,000 companies.

Waheed Ahmed, the Director of IAC and the patron in chief of Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Importers and Exporters Association (PFVA), said that his company had been participating in the exhibition for the past 13 years and had received orders from international buyers. This year, IAC is expected to receive orders worth $2 million.

The exhibition is an annual event held regularly, and more than 100 Pakistani companies participated this year. Businessmen from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Italy, the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Mauritius, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait visited IAC’s stall and showed interest in its products.

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The company hopes to find new markets where Pakistan’s pulp and concentrates are not yet exported but may start doing so soon.

IAC’s products at the exhibition included its energy booster, ABC Juice, produced under the brand of “Fruit Nation.” Other exportable products of IAC included pulps of guava and mango, tomato paste, apple juice concentrate, and dates.

These items are used in the juice and ice cream industries and are supplied to local and international industries.

IAC successfully produced some products that were previously imported, such as tomato paste and apple juice concentrate, and now exports them, reducing the country’s import bill.

IAC claims to be among the 200 companies worldwide that have their own gardens for fresh fruits and vegetables, state-of-the-art processing facilities, and food and beverage consumer products.

The company has been in business for 62 years and has invested $10 million to export its brands to more than 25 countries.

Ahmed expressed hope of better business through participation in the Gulf Food and Beverages exhibition, as the country needs to bolster its foreign exchange reserves, and IAC aims to play its part in achieving this

Pakistani artist Kaifi Khalil’s Kahani Suno 2.0 lands in YouTube’s Top 10 Global chart

Kaifi Khalil, a young Pakistani singer-songwriter, has made history by becoming the first Pakistani artist to make it onto YouTube’s Top 10 Global list. His music video for the single “Kahani Suno 2.0” is currently ranked 8th on the YouTube Global Music Video Charts.

Kaifi expressed his gratitude towards his fans for their love and support for not only producing the first Pakistani song to reach the YouTube Top 10 list but also doing it without the help of any major music label.

Kaifi Khalil’s heartfelt note to his fans read, “Thank you Allah and thank you so much all for your pure love and support. Lots of love and prayers for my all fans. I will always be thankful to you all and will always try to write what I am feeling. Love you all my broken homies.”

The YouTube Top 10 Global list also includes Rema and Selena with Calm Down, Shakira, Miley Cyrus, and a recent Latin hit, Que Vuelvas. Blackpink, Rihanna, Ozuna, and Arijit are also among the top artists outside the Top 10.

Xulfi, a musician and Coke Studio producer, congratulated Kaifi Khalil on his remarkable achievement. He said, “This is probably one of the biggest achievements for a song and artist on the global stage in recent times for Pakistan.”

He went on to add, “This is a humble guy from Lyari making music for the love of it. Expressing authentically without any layers. And just like that, he brewed Kahani Suno. An independent artist releasing a song independently without any labels. What’s a more heartwarming and amazing belief story in recent times? I can’t think of one.”

Kaifi Khalil has had a fantastic 2022, and his popularity continues to rise worldwide. The young singer made his mark last year with the Coke Studio season 14 hit “Kana Yaari” with Abdul Wahab Bugti and hijabi rapper Eva B.

However, it was his heartfelt track “Kahani Suno 2.0” that made him an international star. The song also featured an OST for the drama serial Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha. Kaifi Khalil is a promising young music artist from Karachi, known for bringing a twist to traditional Balochi music by combining it with modern music. He was arguably the best emerging artist of 2022.

In conclusion, Kaifi Khalil’s Kahani Suno 2.0 has made history by landing in YouTube’s Top 10 Global chart. His success is a testament to his talent and dedication to creating authentic music.

Kiara Advani shares her emotions about viral bridal entry

Kiara Advani shares her emotions about viral bridal entry with Sidharth Malhotra.

Actress Kiara Advani has opened up about her feelings regarding her unique bridal entry moment that went viral on social media.

She spoke about the experience during an award show where she revealed that she was very emotional but as soon as the doors opened and she saw Sidharth Malhotra waiting for her, she felt excited and thought to herself,

“Yay! I’m getting married.” Kiara blushed while expressing her feelings and Sidharth, who was among the audience, immediately stepped up on stage to hug her.

The viral wedding video was posted on both Advani and Malhotra’s Instagram handles three days after their marriage.

The video featured their hit song “Ranjha” from the film “Shershah” playing in the background. The couple tied the knot on February 7 at Suryagarh Palace in Rajasthan.

Overall, Kiara seemed to be very happy and emotional about her bridal entry and seeing Sidharth waiting for her. It was a special moment for both of them and their fans.

SC bench dissolved after recusal of four judges in election suo motu

Chief Justice of Pakistan formed New bench after recusal of judges in election suo motu case.


A nine-member larger bench of the Supreme Court, which was hearing a suo motu notice regarding elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, was dissolved on Monday after four judges recused themselves from the case.

The judges who recused themselves were Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Yahya Afridi.

A new five-member bench has now been constituted to hear the case, which has resumed its proceedings.

Lt Gen Rtd Amjad Shoaib Arrested for Incitement

Lt Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib, a former army officer, was arrested by Islamabad police early on Monday on suspicion of inciting public dissent against national institutions.

According to sources, he was apprehended at his residence in the federal capital by officers from the Ramna police station.


The arrest came after an FIR was filed against him under sections 153A and 505 of the Pakistan Penal Code at the same police station the previous evening. The complainant in the FIR was Magistrate Awais Khan.
During a recent television interview, Lt Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib reportedly made comments inciting people to revolt against institutions, which led to the filing of the FIR.

He is currently in police custody at the police station’s lockup and will be brought before a local court this morning for remand.

This is not the first time Lt Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib has been in trouble with authorities. On September 7th, he was summoned by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) after making claims about a meeting between Pakistan’s prime minister and an Israeli team.

However, he did not appear before the FIA’s Cybercrimes Wing as requested.
According to Amjad Shoaib, the prime minister had met with an Israeli delegation during a visit to a Gulf country.

The former military officer’s claims had caused a stir in Pakistani media, and the government had denied any such meeting had taken place.


The current arrest of Lt Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib is a clear indication of the Pakistani government’s determination to clamp down on any attempts to incite public dissent against national institutions.

The authorities have been increasingly vigilant about the issue since the 2018 general elections, which saw the emergence of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party as the ruling party.


The PTI government has been accused of cracking down on opposition figures and journalists critical of its policies.

In recent months, several prominent journalists and activists have been arrested, and media outlets have been targeted for censorship.

The government has defended its actions as necessary to maintain national security and stability, but critics have decried them as an attack on democratic principles and freedom of expression.


The arrest of Lt Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib is likely to add fuel to the ongoing debate about the limits of free speech in Pakistan.

While the government has a duty to maintain law and order and protect national institutions, it must also respect the rights of individuals to express their opinions freely and without fear of reprisal.

Balancing these competing interests is a delicate task that requires careful consideration and a commitment to upholding democratic values.


In conclusion, the arrest of Lt Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib on charges of inciting public dissent against national institutions is a significant development in Pakistan’s political landscape.

It highlights the government’s determination to maintain control over the narrative and clamp down on any dissenting voices.

However, it also raises important questions about the limits of free speech and the government’s responsibility to protect democratic values.

As the country moves forward, it will be crucial to find a balance between these competing interests and ensure that democratic principles are upheld.

Overloaded Boat Sinks off Italy’s Coast, Leaving 59 Migrants Dead, Including 28 Pakistanis

At least 59 migrants, including 28 Pakistanis, died after their overloaded boat sank in stormy seas off Italy’s southern Calabria region.

The vessel had set sail from Turkey several days ago with migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and other countries, and crashed in stormy weather near Steccato di Cutro, a seaside resort on the eastern coast of Calabria.

According to the Pakistani embassy in Rome, the bodies of 28 Pakistanis have been fished out of the sea by the rescue officials, while 12 more citizens are still missing.

The Pakistani officials said that they are in contact with the Italian authorities, volunteers, and maritime agencies in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani embassy is in touch with the Pakistani community in the Calabria region and providing them with the latest information about the sad incident.

The coastguard service said that “43 bodies” had been found along the coast and “80 people recovered alive, including some who managed to reach the shore after the sinking”.

One survivor was arrested on migrant trafficking charges. Cutro’s mayor, Antonio Ceraso, said women and children were among the dead.

Exact numbers for how many children had died were not yet available. His voice cracking up, Ceraso told the Foreign Media that he had seen “a spectacle that you would never want to see in your life … a gruesome sight … that stays with you for all your life”.

Wreckage from the wooden gulet, a Turkish sailing boat, was strewn across a large stretch of coast. Curra said the vessel left Izmir in eastern Turkey three or four days ago, adding that survivors had said some 140 to 150 were on board.

“Many of these migrants came from Afghanistan and Iran, fleeing conditions of great hardship”, Italian President Sergio Mattarella said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed “deep sorrow” for the deaths, blaming human traffickers, and vowed to block migrant sea departures to prevent such disasters.

Her right-wing administration has taken a hard line on migration since taking office in October, mostly by restricting the activities of migrant rescue charities with tough new laws that won final parliamentary approval on Thursday.

Meloni accuses charities of encouraging migrants to make the dangerous sea journey to Italy, acting as so-called “pull factors”. Charities reject this, saying migrants set off regardless of whether rescue boats are in the vicinity.

“Stopping, blocking and hindering the work of NGOs (non-governmental organisations) will have only one effect: the death of vulnerable people left without help,” Spanish migrant rescue charity Open Arms tweeted in reaction to Sunday’s shipwreck.

In a separate statement, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said it was essential to stop sea crossings that he said offer migrants the “illusory mirage of a better life” in Europe, enrich traffickers, and cause such tragedies.

Pope Francis, the son of Italian immigrants to Argentina and long a vocal advocate for migrants’ rights, said he was praying for everyone caught up in the shipwreck.

Italy is one of the main landing points for migrants trying to enter Europe by sea, with many seeking to travel on to richer northern European nations.

The so-called central Mediterranean route is known as one of the world’s most dangerous. The United Nations Missing Migrants Project has registered more than 17,000 deaths and disappearances in the central Mediterranean since 2014. More than 220 have died or disappeared this year, it estimates.

Karachi Kings Defeat Multan Sultans by 66 Runs in PSL Match

In the 14th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 8th edition, Karachi Kings secured a convincing win over Multan Sultans by 66 runs.

Karachi’s bowlers, including Tabraiz Shamsi, Shoaib Malik, Akif Javed, and Imad Waseem, wreaked havoc on the Sultans’ batting lineup, limiting them to a meager total of 101 runs in 16.3 overs.

Despite some resistance from Rizwan and Masood, who made 29 and 25 runs respectively, the Kings’ spinner trio was too much for the Sultans to handle.

Karachi had set a target of 168 runs for Multan, which they chased down comfortably.

Opener James Vince contributed 27 runs in 12 balls before being dismissed by Anwar Ali, while Matthew Wade and Tayyab Tahir put up an impressive partnership of 109 runs for the second wicket.

Although both were taken out by Ihsanullah, who is the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, they managed to score 65 and 46 runs respectively in 46 and 47 balls.

Multan Sultans had won the toss and elected to bowl first. The match was played at Karachi cricket stadium, and the home side posted 167-3 in 20 overs.

With this win, Karachi Kings moved up to the fifth position on the points table with four points, while Multan Sultans retained their top spot with eight points despite losing their sixth match out of the six they have played so far in this tournament.

WhatsApp to Introduce Scheduled Calls Feature like Google Meet and Zoom

WhatsApp is adding new features to catch up with rival apps like Telegram and Google Meet. The latest addition is a feature that allows users to schedule calls in group chats, similar to what Zoom and Google Meet already offer.

The scheduling feature was first spotted on WhatsApp beta for Android and has now started appearing on the WhatsApp beta for iOS version 23.4.0.75 on the TestFlight app. According to WABetaInfo, the new feature will be available soon to all users.

Once enabled, a new context menu will appear, offering a scheduling option that allows users to choose a time for the group call and name it. All members of the group will then receive a notification, making it easy for them to join the call promptly. It’s important to note that the scheduling feature works for both audio and video calls and depends on which call button users use to open the context menu.

This feature is likely to be a game-changer for group meetings and events, as it allows group members to plan their schedules in advance. It ensures that everyone in the group is aware of the scheduled time, allowing them to prepare accordingly, without the need for additional reminders. Additionally, it can help reduce the likelihood of missed or delayed calls.

As the feature is already under beta testing, it is expected to be available on the stable version of WhatsApp for Android and iOS soon. Since it is only a minor feature, it should not take long for it to roll out to all users.

WhatsApp’s latest addition is just one of many new features that the app has been adding in recent years. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on messaging apps, WhatsApp has been working hard to keep up with its competitors by adding new features and improving its user experience.

Pakistan Needs 5G to Compete Globally – IT Minister

IT Minister Aminul Haq recently announced that the adoption of 5G technology is crucial for Pakistan to keep up with the global tech competition.

5G, the latest iteration of cellular technology, is designed to increase the speed and responsiveness of wireless networks.

Telecom giants are working towards the commercial deployment of the latest networks.

According to a June 2021 report of the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), 58 countries have launched 5G networks in their countries while others are deploying.

More than 90 operators have already deployed 5G networks globally, and it is estimated that 5G connections will reach 2.8 billion by 2025.

Pakistan’s economy has been positively impacted by the IT and telecom industry. While rice and textile exports registered a decline, IT exports grew by 3.5% in the July-January period of the current fiscal year.

Foreign direct investment in the technology sector of Pakistan has also reached more than $1 billion in the last three years.

The telecom operators, including Jazz, PTCL, Telenor Pakistan, and Zong, have successfully made trials of 5G in Pakistan.

The government is working to make policy and provide a platform for the commercial launch of 5G in the country.

Pakistan has great potential for 5G. The number of smartphone users is about 90 million and growing at a fast pace every year, and the internet adaptation rate is 23 percent annually.

Through modern technology and fast internet, education is being provided remotely. 5G will help people who belong to far-flung areas, and video animation and lectures would be available online through fast connectivity.

In the health sector, 5G will revolutionize medicine as doctors from the main cities would be able to diagnose patients online through fast connectivity.

Pakistan also has the second-largest number of freelancers in the world. People from Pakistan are providing their services online and earning foreign reserves for the country. The 5G technology will help them provide their services faster.

The e-commerce industry is proliferating worldwide, and the e-commerce market also has great potential.

Through connectivity, Pakistan can export its products to the world through e-commerce, which will boost the economy of the country.

In Asia, South Korea, Japan, and China are leading the race in 5G technology. On the other hand, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka are lagging as they have not yet implemented a 5G policy.

China is spreading a vast network of 5G across the country. According to a plan issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of that country, the web will be spread to all cities and towns, as well as most villages, by 2025.

Covid-19 has negatively affected all sectors of life globally except information technology.

This is the only sector where investment did not decline due to the pandemic. The 5G technology will revolutionize all sectors of the economy in Pakistan.

In conclusion, the adoption of 5G technology is crucial for Pakistan to keep up with the global tech competition. The IT and telecom industry is not just an industry but a catalyst for growth and beneficial for the country’s economy.

Pakistan has excellent potential for 5G in various sectors such as education, health, freelancers, and e-commerce. By implementing 5G, Pakistan can boost its economy, provide remote education and healthcare, and export its products to the world.

Indian News Agency Propagates False Narratives Against Pakistan, China

Asian News International (ANI), a well-known Indian “news” agency, continues to spread fake stories using fake sources and “fake experts” to attack rivals, especially China and Pakistan, according to a report by EU DisinfoLab.

EU DisinfoLab made the discovery in a report called “Bad Sources (BS)” that looked into anti-Pakistan and anti-China influence operations as a follow-up to two other ANI reveals.

“Two previous EU DisinfoLab investigations showed that ANI often used quotes from the now-defunct “EP Today” and “EU Chronicles,” which claimed to be about EU affairs but were actually made to spread anti-Pakistan/anti-China propaganda in India,” the Brussels-based NGO’s report said.

The latest investigation found that the Indian wire service, which gives news to millions of Indians, has been quoting a think tank that was shut down in 2014 and no longer exists.

Also, the news agency has been using quotes from people who don’t exist, such as a journalist, a few bloggers, and so-called geopolitical experts.

EU DisinfoLab said that ANI now quotes the Canadian IFFRAS think tank about twice a week, even though it used to be linked to the Srivastava group and was legally broken up in 2014.

It went on to say that the think tank’s website “falsely lists real Canadian university professors as attendees of a conference they never went to and even makes up fake quotes from these academics.”

The EU DisinfoLab tried for a “considerable amount of time” to get in touch with and find any sign of the people ANI said existed. The so-called “experts” were published again in a number of Indian media outlets, adding to the propaganda loop and putting forward stories that become more and more true over time.

Nearly “entirely” about criticizing Pakistan and China, the stories that the fake people and groups spread were about them.

The fake stories were “almost exclusively quoted by ANI and then republished by a number of Indian media outlets,” the report said.

In July 2021, a news article with the title “European Parliament to pull Pakistan’s GSP+ status over abuse of blasphemy laws” showed an example of bad sources. This withdrawal did not happen.

Philippe Jeune, who sometimes went by the name “Phillipe Jeune,” “Philippe Jeaune,” or “Philippe Lejeune,” and said he was a “Paris-based investigative journalist with more than 10 years of experience” or “a Brussels-based freelance journalist” but didn’t exist, was quoted by ANI.

“A fake “Philippe” (the real French first name is spelled “Philippe”) has been published on EU Political Report and EU Today, two Brussels-based media outlets that Mark Scott has written about in a series of articles for Politico. “ANI’s article uses quotes from both EU Political Report and EU Today, which makes it look like it’s based on reliable EU news sources, but it’s not,” the report said.

The EU DisinfoLab tried to meet Jeune and reached out to the Brussels media where he wrote. When we asked about Jeune’s contribution to EU Political Report, the editor-in-chief told us to talk to the director of EU Today.

“Despite our repeated requests, none of them could put us in touch with Mr. Jeune,” the document said.

The Brussels-based NGO called for bad sources that come from or are helped by real or fake organizations and people in Europe and North America to be recognized and held morally responsible.

The report came to the conclusion that ANI had let down its readers by not following the basic rules of the Charter of Munich, which spells out what journalists have to do and what rights they have.

The fact that some of the “organizations” mentioned use fake names and try to hide their tracks while counting on being quoted often by ANI shows that, in reality, ANI is playing a key role in this influence operation.”

Indian Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Wife Sues For Rape

In a new development, Aaliya Siddiqui, the estranged wife of Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, has made allegations of rape against him in a video that she shared on her Instagram account. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Aaliya has filed a case against Nawazuddin for allegedly forcing himself on her.

In the video, Aaliya can be heard calling? Nawazuddin ‘badtameez’ (ill-mannered) and accusing him and his family of wanting custody of their children, Shora and Yaani. Aaliya also accused Nawazuddin of misusing his power and claimed that he had no idea about how children were raised. She broke down in tears as she spoke, stating that money cannot buy her children and that Nawazuddin cannot take them away from her. Aaliya also questioned where he would keep the children and whether they would even know what a father is.

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In the caption of the video that she shared on her Instagram account, Aaliya wrote in Hindi that Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a great actor who tries to be a great human being, but he has a heartless mother who called her innocent child illegitimate and he remained silent. She also revealed that she filed a rape complaint against Nawazuddin with proof at Versova police station.

The relationship between the Gangs of Wasseypur actor and Aaliya Siddiqui, who was previously known as Anjali Kishore Panday, has been tumultuous for over a decade. They made headlines in 2020 when Aaliya filed for divorce, but later called it off in 2021 after a change of heart.

Previously, Aaliya’s lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee had accused Nawazuddin and his family of providing no food or bathroom to Aaliya. These are serious allegations that have added to the already troubled relationship between the couple

Ride-Hailing Apps Strive To Survive as Fuel Prices Go Up

In Pakistan, a ride-hailing app is trying to keep its business going by re-categorizing its customers. This is because rising fuel prices and stiff competition are changing the way the business works.

Imran Saleem, the general manager of Careem, told that as prices have gone up, customers’ tastes have changed. Many of them now prefer cheaper ways to get around, like cars or bikes.

“We are looking for new ways to keep our captains interested in Pakistan.” “One way is to work with corporations and other businesses to help people move between cities,” he said.

“We’re also trying to get more women to ride bikes for us so that we can offer our services to women travelers at much lower prices. This will help create a workforce that includes women and break down stereotypes in society.”

In the six years that the company has been in Pakistan, its captains have been paid $500 million, or half a billion dollars. Its management said that about 820,000 of the 2.5 million captains in the area have signed up for the app.

“Since we are a tech company, we have already added more services in Pakistan, but ride-hailing services are still our main source of income,” said Saleem.

In 2016, the ride-hailing apps Uber Technologies, based in California, and Careem, based in Dubai, came to Pakistan with their smart services. They were met with a lot of interest from people in major cities because they offered cheap and environmentally friendly ways to get around.

Because of the strong competition between them, the apps moved into second-tier cities and added more services.

But in January 2020, right before Covid-19 spread around the world, Uber bought Careem networks for $3.1 billion and made it a wholly owned subsidiary of Uber Technologies.

Since then, Uber has limited its ride-hailing services in Lahore, the city in Pakistan where it started its business. Careem, on the other hand, has services in 10 other cities.

Saleem said that since 2020, when Careem changed from a ride-hailing app to a “super app,” it has added more services to its list.

“We did shut down some of the services we started during Covid, but ride-hailing services are still our main business,” he said.

“The company is making money right now, but this was made possible by reclassifying our services. We will look for more opportunities like this because we are here to stay.”

Rupee Reaches One-Month High Against USD

Friday was the third day in a row that the Pakistani currency kept going up, and it recovered to around Rs260 to a dollar on the inter-bank market.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the value of the rupee against the dollar went up by 0.36%, or Rs0.94, to a one-month high of Rs259.99 (SBP).

The most recent gains happened after the central bank said that the country’s foreign exchange reserves had gotten better for the second week in a row. Last week, they went up $66 million, reaching a four-week high of $3.26 billion.

The rupee was also helped by the news that China would lend Pakistan $700 million this week. After the inter-bank market closed for the day, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that $700 million had been sent to the country.

Samiullah Tariq, the head of research at the Pak-Kuwait Investment Company, said that the rupee might settle between Rs255 and Rs260 per dollar in the short term.

Later, the rupee will move in the same direction as the loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the money from other multilateral and bilateral creditors.

He said that non-debt foreign currency inflows had grown more than non-debt foreign currency outflows in recent years. This is because exporters had been holding on to their earnings overseas while waiting for the rupee-dollar exchange rate to improve.

Builders Lament Hike in Raw Material Prices

Due to the current economic crisis and restrictions on the import of raw steel materials, the price of steel rebar has gone up by a lot. This has caused problems between builders and the people who make the metal.

In a statement, the Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) said that it was worried about the future of the construction industry and that it was sad that a rise in the price of steel bars forced the construction industry to shut down.

“We will continue to protest against cartelization, and we will stop buying steel at arbitrary prices,” ABAD Senior Vice Chairman Khawar Munir was quoted as saying in a statement.

He told the members of the association to keep putting off buying steel until the manufacturers brought prices back to normal. Earlier on February 9, the head of ABAD said that steel manufacturers should be avoided.

Steel prices have gone up for many different reasons, both inside and outside of the country.

“Import restrictions led to supply shocks, which caused prices for steel rebar to go up,” said Mehroz Khan, a steel analyst at Optimus Research, in an interview with The Express Tribune.

Manufacturers also raised prices because there wasn’t enough scrap metal made locally.

“Releasing restrictions on scrap imports is the only way out of this situation,” he said. “The current gap between demand and supply will continue to grow if the right steps aren’t taken.”

With the announcement of the mini-budget, the price of a ton of steel went up to Rs350,000, and a sack of cement cost more than Rs1,000. This made things worse for the construction industry, which was already struggling because of cost overruns, said Munir. “As a result, the cost of building projects has gone up by a huge amount.”

The leader of ABAD said that he was worried that most of the building projects would stop, and that people would not be able to move into their new homes on time. The problem would also hurt the 72 businesses that work with the construction industry.

He asked the government to pay attention to the fact that steel companies were working together to raise prices. He also asked the government to take real steps to bring prices back down to normal levels and get rid of the tax on cement.

If not, “the construction industry will stop, costing the country a lot of money and putting millions of skilled workers out of work.”

When asked for comment, Wajid Bukhari, Secretary General of the Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP), said that ABAD’s claims were irresponsible and misleading.

He said that ABAD was wrong when it said that rebars cost Rs350,000 per ton. Instead, they cost between Rs280,000 and Rs305,000 per ton right now.

“The businesses that make things want the government to lower taxes on raw materials. We think it would be a good idea to let steel bars come in from other countries. This would bring in money for the government and end the manufacturers’ monopoly, said the head of the Karachi Iron and Steel Merchants Association, Shamoon Bakir Ali.

Wajid Bukhari said, “There are about 400 steel units in the country, which is too many for a cartel to be formed.”

In fact, 30% of the units have been shut down because there aren’t enough raw materials for industry. The rest are running at less than 50% capacity and buy steel scrap made locally.

Since scrap imports have stopped, the price of scrap in the country has gone from Rs120 per kg to Rs195 per kg. Also, he saw that the costs of chemicals, gas, electricity, freight, etc. went up by 25–30%.

In this case, the price of a kg of bars has gone up by more than Rs100. Bukhari said that steel units were losing a lot of money because they didn’t use all of their capacity and had to pay a lot for interest.

1.5 million Earthquake-Displaced People, Turkey Begins Rebuilding

A government official said on Friday that Turkey has started to rebuild homes after this month’s devastating earthquakes. The death toll in Turkey and Syria has now passed 50,000.

During the February 6 earthquakes that killed tens of thousands of people in Turkey and neighboring Syria, more than 160,000 buildings with 520,000 apartments either fell down or were severely damaged.

Friday night, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said that 44,218 people have died because of earthquakes in Turkey.

With Syria’s new death toll of 5,914, the total number of people who have died in both countries is now over 50,000.

President Tayyip Erdogan has promised to rebuild homes in a year, even though there are elections coming up in a few months. Experts have said that safety should come before speed. Some buildings that were made to stand up to earthquakes fell apart in the recent ones.

“There have been bids and contracts for a number of different projects. The process moves very quickly, “The official said this on the condition of anonymity and added that safety would not be put at risk.

Tents have been sent out to help the many homeless people, but some people have had trouble getting to them.

“There are eight of them. We have a tent as our home. The top of the tent is wet, and the ground is also wet. We’ve asked for more tents, but they haven’t given us any “Melek, 67, was in line outside of a high school in the town of Hassa to get help.

A group of volunteers called Interrail Turkey was using the school as a place to give out aid. Sumeyye Karabocek, a volunteer, said that the lack of tents was still the biggest problem.

There was a need for 500,000 new homes.

Erdogan’s government has taken a lot of heat for how it handled the disaster and for what many Turks say was years of not enforcing quality control in building.

He said that the first plan for the Turkish government is to spend at least $15 billion to build 200,000 apartments and 70,000 village homes. The US bank JPMorgan said it would cost $25 billion to rebuild houses and infrastructure.

The UNDP said that because of the damage, 1.5 million people are now homeless and 500,000 new homes are needed.

It said that it had asked for $113.5 million of the $1 billion that the UN had asked for last week, and that this money would be used to clear away mountains of rubble.

The UNDP says that between 116 million and 210 million tons of rubble were made by the disaster. This is a lot more than the 13 million tons of rubble that were made by the earthquake in northwest Turkey in 1999.

Turkey also made new rules so that companies and charities can build homes and workplaces for people in need and give them to the ministry of urbanization.

Many people who lived through the earthquake in southern Turkey have left the area or moved into tents, container homes, or other places set up by the government.

In Antakya, Saeed Sleiman Ertoglu, who is 56 years old, loaded up what was left of his shop’s stock that wasn’t damaged.

“The glassware was even more beautiful than usual, but then we had this (earthquake), and it was all broken,” he said, after his home and shop had survived the first earthquake but not the second. He thought that only 5% of his goods had made it.

“What can we do?,” he said. “This is something God did, and God’s will always brings good things.”

Banking Court Summons Imran For Unauthorized Funding

Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a former prime minister, was called to a banking court in Islamabad on February 28 as part of the case against him for illegally getting money.

Under the Foreign Exchange Act, the former prime minister and other PTI leaders were charged with “prohibited funding.” Judge Rukhshanda Shaheen was in charge of the hearing for this case.

During today’s court hearing, Imran’s lawyers gave the court a copy of the order from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Taking into account what the IHC had already said, the court told Imran to show up on February 28. Hearings were put off until the same date.

Imran had asked for his statement to be written down in a letter to the person in charge of the investigation into the illegal funding case.

In the letter, he said that a case had been filed against him “without investigation” and that someone had tried to kill him on the way to Islamabad.

Imran said that he was shot multiple times and was taken to the hospital. A case was opened about what happened.

Imran said that he asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to record his statement through a video link or a letter on Dec. 3, Jan. 30, and Feb. 4. He did this in three letters.

The former prime minister also said that he asked the FIA to send an investigation team to Lahore, and the FIA told the banking court that it would help him.

But he said that, despite being asked many times, the FIA did not help.

He also said that a number of courts, including the Islamabad High Court (IHC), said that his medical reports were fine. The former premier said that the agency only did what the federal government told it to do.

He said that he wanted to send a letter to join the case.

NEPRA team visits K-Electric for review

On February 23, 2023, K-Electric (KE) hosted a visit from senior officials of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), led by Member (Technical) Rafique Ahmad Shaikh.

The purpose of the visit was to assess KE’s performance and compliance with NEPRA’s regulations, including the Act, Performance Standards (Distribution) Rules 2005, Distribution Code, and other applicable rules.

KE CEO Moonis Alvi and senior management briefed the NEPRA Authority on the company’s initiatives and proactive measures to ensure adequate supply and demand during the upcoming Holy month of Ramadan, as well as the financial and operational challenges that the company is facing.

During the meeting, NEPRA Member Rafique Ahmad Shaikh stressed the need for continuous improvement to meet the rising demand for power.

He directed KE officials to maintain their growth trajectory and strive for greater efficiency and innovation, including the integration of clean energy projects into the system.

The NEPRA delegation’s visit to KE is a part of their routine inspection of the power distribution companies operating in Pakistan.

The regulatory authority’s role is to ensure that power companies comply with all applicable rules and regulations to ensure the provision of safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to consumers.

KE, the sole power distribution company in Karachi and its surrounding areas, has been facing several challenges in recent years, including capacity constraints, aging infrastructure, and the impact of climate change on the power generation and distribution system.

Despite these challenges, KE has taken several initiatives to address the power supply-demand gap and improve the reliability of its services.

One such initiative is the development of a comprehensive load shedding plan for the summer months, which is traditionally a time of increased power demand due to higher temperatures and longer daylight hours.

The plan includes the installation of additional power generation capacity and the optimization of the existing system to ensure uninterrupted power supply to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers.

KE is also investing in renewable energy projects, including solar and wind power, to diversify its energy mix and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.

The company has set a target of generating 30% of its power from renewable sources by 2030.

During the NEPRA delegation’s visit, KE officials also highlighted the company’s efforts to improve customer service, including the installation of smart meters and the introduction of online bill payment and complaint registration systems.

These initiatives have helped to reduce the turnaround time for service requests and improve customer satisfaction.

In conclusion, NEPRA’s visit to K-Electric is a testament to the regulatory authority’s commitment to ensuring the provision of safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to consumers in Pakistan.

KE’s initiatives to address the power supply-demand gap and improve the reliability of its services, as well as its investment in renewable energy projects and efforts to improve customer service, are steps in the right direction.

With continued support from NEPRA and other stakeholders, KE can overcome its challenges and achieve its goal of providing uninterrupted power supply to the people of Karachi and its surrounding areas.

Pakistani invention wins US award for treating neuro disorders

Vibrational waves are used by EKKO to provide affordable and safe treatment for neurological disorders.

The US-based nonprofit organization AUTM has awarded the 2023 Better World Project Award to a device developed by researchers from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Pakistan for the treatment of neurological disorders. The award ceremony took place this week in Washington.

The Better World Project Award recognizes the impact of research commercialization and the important role technology transfer plays in that process. The annual award honors the outstanding work of a technology transfer office, based on stories submitted the previous year. The EKKO Wave Therapeutic Device developed by NUST won the award after receiving a record-breaking 1,100 votes.

The device offers a low-cost, non-invasive mobile therapy to treat neuro disorders by providing vibrational waves that affect neural activity in the brain and body. NUST’s Technology Transfer Office collaborated with various departments and stakeholders from the project’s inception to its successful pilot testing. The technology was licensed to MIS RiseTech for commercialization.

The device was developed by a team of innovators, including Dr. Sajid Gul Khawaja, an assistant professor, and Dr. Muhammad Usman Akram, an associate professor, both from the College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at NUST. The device is based on the theory developed by renowned speech therapist and psychologist Mr. Shahbaz Khalid.

More than 40 stories were submitted to the Better World Project last year, and the committee narrowed them down to three finalists. The EKKO Wave Therapeutic Device was the eventual winner of the award.

Apex committee meeting shows ‘zero tolerance’ towards terrorism

During a recent session of the Apex committee, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, it was decided that the scourge of terrorism would be eliminated with the utmost resolve. The participants expressed their determination to fight against the menace of terrorism.

In the session, the Prime Minister emphasized the use of absolute state machinery to put an end to terrorist attacks in the country.

The main focus would be on operational preparedness and increasing the capability of the police force.

The premier praised the security forces for their successful operation against terrorists who attacked the Karachi police office, while condemning the incident in severe terms.

The Apex committee session was held to review the security situation in the country and to devise a plan to combat terrorism.

The session was attended by top officials, including the Chief Minister of Punjab and other law enforcement agencies. The participants discussed various measures to ensure the safety and security of citizens.

The Prime Minister reiterated his government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism from the country.

He emphasized the need for strong coordination between all law enforcement agencies to tackle the threat of terrorism effectively.

The premier also stressed the importance of intelligence-sharing among different agencies to preempt terrorist attacks.

The participants of the session expressed their zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and pledged to take all necessary steps to eradicate this menace.

The committee members also discussed the role of the media in creating awareness among the public about the dangers of terrorism.

In conclusion, the Apex committee session was held to discuss the security situation in the country and to devise a plan to combat terrorism.

The Prime Minister emphasized the use of absolute state machinery to put an end to terrorist attacks in the country.

The participants expressed their determination to fight against the menace of terrorism and pledged to take all necessary steps to eradicate it.

The government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism from the country was reiterated, and the importance of strong coordination and intelligence-sharing among different law enforcement agencies was emphasized.

Pakistan’s Weekly Inflation Jumps to 41.54% in Five Months

Pakistan’s weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), has jumped to 41.54% on a year-on-year basis for the week ended on Feb 23.

This is the first time inflation has crossed the 40% mark in over five months. The previous week saw an increase of 2.89% to reach 38.42%.

The increase was mainly due to the rise in food prices, such as bananas, chicken, sugar, cooking oil, vegetable ghee, and tea prepared. Non-food items such as gas and cigarettes also saw an increase in prices.

In contrast, some food items such as onions, eggs, tomatoes, garlic, LPG, and pulse gram (0.21) saw a slight decrease in prices.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) report, out of 51 items, prices of 33 (64.71%) items increased, 06 (11.76%) items decreased, and 12 (23.53%) items remained stable during the week.

The increase in inflation comes as Pakistan takes measures to meet the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the revival of the loan programme.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned that inflation would further increase after the approval of the IMF programme.

To boost revenue generation in line with the preconditions of the IMF, the federal government has also approved a ‘mini-budget’ to impose additional taxes of Rs170 billion.

Pakistan’s economy has been struggling in recent years, with the country seeking help from the IMF. In 2019, Pakistan reached an agreement with the IMF for a $6 billion loan programme to address its balance of payments crisis.

The IMF programme aimed to strengthen Pakistan’s economy by implementing reforms such as improving tax collection, increasing energy tariffs, and controlling government spending.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened Pakistan’s economic situation, with the country experiencing a negative growth rate of 0.4% in 2020.

The government has taken several measures to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on the economy, including a relief package worth Rs1.2 trillion.

Despite the government’s efforts, Pakistan’s economy remains vulnerable due to various factors such as political instability, security challenges, and a lack of foreign investment.

The country’s economy heavily relies on remittances from overseas Pakistanis, which account for around 8% of the country’s GDP.

Inflation has been a persistent problem for Pakistan’s economy, with the country’s consumer price inflation rate averaging 7.86% from 1957 until 2021.

High inflation rates reduce people’s purchasing power, leading to a decline in economic growth. The rising inflation rate in Pakistan is likely to have a negative impact on the country’s economy, especially for low-income households.

To combat inflation, the State Bank of Pakistan has increased its policy rate, which is the rate at which banks borrow money from the central bank.

The policy rate has been increased by a cumulative 625 basis points since January 2018, reaching 13.25% in July 2019.

The State Bank of Pakistan has also taken measures such as tightening monetary policy, improving tax collection, and increasing the production of essential goods to control inflation.

In conclusion, Pakistan’s weekly inflation has jumped to 41.54% for the first time in five months, mainly due to the rise in food prices and non-food items.

The country’s economy remains vulnerable due to various factors, and the rising inflation rate is likely to have a negative impact, especially on low-income households.

The government and central bank have taken measures to combat inflation, but it remains a persistent problem that needs to be addressed.

Islamabad United beats Quetta Gladiators by 63 runs in PSL eighth edition match

In the 13th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Islamabad United faced off against Quetta Gladiators at Karachi on Friday.

The match was dominated by Azam Khan’s explosive batting and Fazalhaq Farooqi’s exceptional bowling, leading Islamabad United to a 63-run victory over Quetta Gladiators.

Quetta Gladiators were chasing a mammoth total of 221 runs, but their innings was cleaned up for 157 in the last over. The Gladiators were three down for 26 runs, but veteran Mohammad Hafeez and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed showed some intent to go hard against the United’s bowlers.

However, Farooqi proved to be brilliant for the United, bagging three wickets including an important wicket of Hafeez. Hafeez was looking belligerent for his 26-ball 48, studded with six fours and two maximums.

Farooqi got rid of Hafeez, who was looking for a big hit, but found the fielder. Sarfaraz Ahmed went for a 36-ball 41, hitting three fours and one maximum. Iftikhar Ahmed also looked good for his 27-ball 39, hitting three boundaries and two towering sixes, while the rest of the batters failed to offer any significant resistance.

Jason Roy (5), Martin Guptill (0), Odean Smith (0), Naseem Shah (0), Aimal Khan (0), Mohammad Nawaz (1), and Mohammad Hasnain (1) failed to contribute big for their side. For the United, Farooqi (3-28) and Hasan Ali (3-38) bagged three wickets each. Abrar Ahmed (2-21) and Shadab Khan (2-24) bowled brilliantly and grabbed two wickets apiece.

After winning the toss, Islamabad United decided to bat first. Azam Khan’s blistering 42-ball 97 powered Quetta Gladiators to 220-6 against Islamabad United in the high-voltage clash of the premium tournament.

Despite losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (8 off 8) and Rassie van der Dussen (1 off 4), Colin Munro tried to reconstruct the innings of the United when they were two down for 39. Munro scored 22-ball 38, studded with four sixes and a boundary. He was cleaned up by Aimal Khan. Mohammad Hasnain, who went on to be expensive in the death overs, was brilliant with the bowl in the first powerplay, getting rid of Gurbaz and Dussen.

The United were struggling when Azam Khan came to bat, but he was absolutely scintillating, clobbering nine boundaries and eight maximums. He needed three runs to score a ton, but was cleaned up by Oden Smith in the final delivery of the innings of the United. For Quetta Gladiators, Mohammad Hasnain scooped up two wickets but was expensive, conceding 52 runs.

Odean Smith also took two wickets, conceding 41 runs. Aimal Khan was hammered for 55 runs in his four overs, though he picked up a wicket. In terms of economy, Naseem Shah (1-32) was much better and bagged a wicket. Mohammad Nawaz (0-34) and Iftikhar Ahmed (0-4) were wicketless.

Islamabad United opted to bat first against Quetta Gladiators in the marquee tournament. They welcomed Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi, who was making his first appearance for the United. The United’s playing

Pakistan’s First Transgender News Anchor Survives Assassination Attempt

Marvia Malik, Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor, survived a gun attack on Thursday night outside her residence in the Lahore Cantt area.

Two men opened fire on Malik as she was returning from a pharmacy, according to her statement to the police.

Malik said she had been receiving threatening phone calls and messages from unknown numbers for raising her voice for the transgender community.

She left Lahore and relocated to Islamabad and Multan out of fear for her life. She had returned to Lahore a few days ago for surgery when the attack occurred. Malik said her activism was “a major factor” behind the assassination attempt.

Malik made history in 2018 as the first transgender news anchor in Pakistan. She was a vocal advocate for the rights of the transgender community and often used her platform to raise awareness about their issues.

Despite facing discrimination and harassment, Malik continued to break down barriers and pave the way for other members of the transgender community.

The attack on Malik is a reminder of the violence and discrimination faced by the transgender community in Pakistan. According to a report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, transgender individuals face “systemic discrimination and violence” in the country.

They are often denied basic rights such as education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, and are subjected to harassment and violence by both state and non-state actors.

In recent years, there have been some positive developments in terms of legal recognition and protection for transgender individuals in Pakistan.

In 2009, the Supreme Court ruled that transgender individuals have the right to identify themselves as a third gender on official documents.

In 2018, the government issued a national transgender rights policy, which included measures to protect transgender individuals from discrimination and violence.

However, despite these developments, there is still a long way to go in terms of achieving equality and justice for the transgender community in Pakistan.

The attack on Marvia Malik is a stark reminder of the challenges that they continue to face. It is essential for the government and society as a whole to take steps to ensure the safety and protection of transgender individuals and to promote their rights and dignity.

US Emphasizes Importance of Trade Ties with Pakistan for Economic Stability

In a press briefing on Thursday, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price highlighted the importance of the US-Pakistan trade relationship, citing the devastating floods that hit Pakistan last year as a reason for the relationship’s crucial role in the country’s economic recovery.

Price noted that the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council ministerial meeting hosted by US Trade Representative Ambassador Tai was an example of the US commitment to deepening economic and commercial ties with Pakistan.

Price stated that a strong trade relationship between the US and Pakistan was more important than ever to support Pakistan’s economic stability as it recovers from the floods.

He also noted that the relationship provided opportunities for American businesses to expand into Pakistani markets.

The US has been Pakistan’s largest export market for years, and Price emphasized that there was potential for even further growth.

Price also discussed the potential for expanding bilateral trade with Pakistan in areas such as energy, agriculture, franchising, retail trade, and information and communications technology products and services.

He noted that the US has been a leading investor in Pakistan for the past two decades, with investments increasing by 50% in the past year alone.

US investment in Pakistan is at its highest level in over a decade, and American companies are among Pakistan’s largest employers, with roughly 80 US companies directly employing more than 120,000 Pakistanis.

In addition to economic concerns, Price also addressed the ongoing terror threat in Pakistan. He stated that the US engagement with Pakistan was rooted in the shared interest in combating terrorism, which has taken many innocent lives in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Price emphasized the need for the Taliban to uphold their commitments and for terrorist groups such as Daesh, TTP, and al-Qaida to no longer pose a threat to regional stability.

Overall, Price’s remarks highlight the importance of the US-Pakistan trade relationship for both economic stability and security concerns.

As the US continues to invest in Pakistan and expand bilateral trade, it is likely that the relationship between the two countries will continue to strengthen.

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