Author: Iqra Khan

Islamabad, Feb 26: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees are facing growing frustration as the airline’s staff ticketing portal, the “Hit-It” system, has remained offline for the past 10 days. The outage has been particularly disruptive for employees planning to travel for Umrah, leaving them unable to book tickets through the internal portal. A PIA spokesperson stated that the system is currently undergoing an upgrade to enhance its functionality. While assuring that the “Hit-It” portal will be restored “in a day or so,” no specific timeline has been provided, adding to the uncertainty for employees who depend on the system for…

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Islamabad, Feb 26: Minister for Industries Rana Tanveer Hussain has announced that Utility Stores will operate under a public-private partnership to curb financial losses and enhance efficiency. Addressing the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Industries and Production, he clarified that the government is not shutting down Utility Stores but restructuring them to ensure long-term sustainability. He acknowledged the billions of rupees in losses faced by the organization, emphasizing that a new strategy is crucial to keeping it afloat. While assuring that the futures of permanent employees will be secured, he pointed out that even regular Utility Stores workers are not…

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Islamabad, Feb 26: Vivo is preparing to introduce its highly anticipated flagship smartphone, the X200 Ultra, which is already making waves with its cutting-edge camera technology. Leaks from Digital Chat Station, a well-known Chinese tipster, suggest that the device will feature a design inspired by professional cameras, along with high-end hardware. With its advanced imaging capabilities, the X200 Ultra could redefine Android video recording, potentially outperforming even the iPhone. One of the standout features of the X200 Ultra is its camera setup, which is expected to include a 50MP ultrawide lens, a 50MP main camera with a 35mm focal length,…

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Islamabad, Feb 26: Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has had a significant impact on the latest ICC ODI rankings, with key players from both the batting and bowling departments suffering declines. The team’s lackluster showings, particularly against India and New Zealand, have led to a drop in rankings for several key players, highlighting the struggles of the squad on the global stage. On the bowling front, Shaheen Afridi has seen a steep fall, slipping five places to rank ninth in the world. His struggles in the tournament, where he failed to deliver match-winning performances, have contributed…

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Islamabad, Feb 26: WhatsApp has introduced its highly anticipated voice message transcription feature in Pakistan, offering users a convenient way to convert voice messages into text. This update is particularly useful in situations where listening to an audio message is not feasible, ensuring greater accessibility and ease of communication. However, the feature comes with a few limitations, including restricted language support and the need for manual activation. To enable the transcription function, users must update WhatsApp to the latest version and navigate to the settings menu. Within the “Chats” section, an option for “Voice message transcripts” is available, allowing users…

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That’s a significant development in U.S.-Pakistan diplomatic and immigration relations. The fact that the deportation is being carried out via a U.S. military aircraft suggests a high level of coordination between both governments. It’s also interesting that Pakistan only confirmed eight out of ten individuals for return perhaps due to verification issues. This could indicate a stricter screening process on Pakistan’s end to ensure lawful repatriation.

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Islamabad, Feb 26: Fakhar Zaman’s potential retirement from ODI cricket would mark the end of an era for Pakistan’s batting lineup. His explosive style at the top of the order has been a defining feature of Pakistan’s limited-overs game for nearly a decade. With 3,651 runs in 86 matches at an average of 46.21 and a strike rate of 93.85, Fakhar’s impact is undeniable. His record-breaking 210* against Zimbabwe in 2018 remains Pakistan’s highest individual ODI score. His 11 centuries and 17 half-centuries highlight his consistency, while his aggressive stroke play has often given Pakistan strong starts in crucial matches.…

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Islamabad, Feb 26: The Pakistan Banking Summit (PBS’25) concluded in Karachi, marking a landmark event for the country’s financial sector. Held on February 24-25 at the Movenpick Hotel, this first-of-its-kind initiative, organized by the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA), brought together a diverse array of financial leaders, policymakers, and international experts to explore the future of banking in Pakistan. The summit saw participation from over 45 institutions, encompassing conventional, Islamic, digital, and microfinance banks, along with development finance institutions. With 12 international speakers and more than 20 industry experts, the event facilitated discussions on economic developments, financial inclusion, SME and agricultural…

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Islamabad, Feb 26: The federal government has revised profit rates on National Savings Schemes, reducing returns across various investment options effective January 31, 2024. The adjustment, announced by the Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS), affects Bahbood Savings Certificates (BSC), Pensioners’ Benefit Account (PBA), Defence Savings Certificates, Special Savings Certificates, Short Term Savings Certificates, and Shuhada Family Welfare Accounts (SFWA). Islamic savings instruments have also seen a decline, with lower rates introduced for Sarwa Islamic Saving Account and Sarwa Islamic Term Account. According to the updated figures, the profit rate on Bahbood Savings Certificates, Pensioners’ Benefit Account, and Shuhada Family…

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Islamabad, Feb 25: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced a groundbreaking service that enables citizens to deposit funds into over 50 banks via its e-Sahulat platform. This initiative, launched in collaboration with 1LINK, is set to enhance financial accessibility across Pakistan, particularly for individuals with limited access to conventional banking. The agreement was formalized at a signing ceremony attended by the Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Saleemullah, and NADRA Chairman. With over 9,000 e-Sahulat franchises integrated into the system, users can now deposit money seamlessly with biometric verification, ensuring security and convenience. NADRA officials…

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