Islamabad, Nov 8: Weekly Inflation Surges Amid Rising Food Prices, LPG Costs. The inflation rate based on the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) for the week ending November 7, 2024, rose by 0.24 percent, as reported by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).In that week, from a total of 51 items, the prices of 21 items (41.18 percent) went up, 10 items (19.61 percent) saw a decrease, and the prices of 20 items (39.21 percent) remained unchanged. Notable increases in prices were recorded for LPG (3.37 percent), Eggs (2.70 percent), Potatoes (2.63 percent), Onions (2.61 percent), Mustard Oil (2.36 percent), Tomatoes…
Author: Iqra Khan
Islamabad, Nov 8: Pirzada Directs Formation of Committee to Resolve FGEHA Plot Disputes. Federal Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada on Friday called for the establishment of a committee comprising members from FGEHA, CDA, Finance, and Law divisions to amicably settle the long-standing disputes concerning FGEHA plots. While presiding over the 36th Executive Board Meeting of Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) at the Ministry of Housing & Works in Islamabad, the minister directed that FGEHA’s claims against the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and other federal bodies be addressed through direct negotiations instead of expensive lawsuits, in…
Islamabad, Nov 8: Planning Minister Chairs Meeting to Advance Pakistan-UK Education Gateway Phase-2. Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a high-level meeting to advance the “Pakistan-UK Education Gateway Phase 2,” a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s higher education sector through strategic partnerships with the UK. Key stakeholders, including the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and British Council representatives, reviewed Phase 1 achievements, which included 21 Research Travel Grants, eight large-scale Research Partnership Grants, and certification of research offices at 51 universities across Pakistan. Over 1,000 researchers were also trained under this phase. Phase 2 of the…
Islamabad, Nov 8: Chinese Intercropping Technology Helps Pakistan Tackle Cotton Crisis, Says Expert. Chinese intercropping technology has revolutionized Pakistan’s agricultural landscape since its launch in 2018, significantly improving both yields and crop durability. The National Research Center of Intercropping (NRCI) in Pakistan has seen a substantial number of farmers eager to embrace this innovative technique, particularly focusing on crops such as maize, wheat, sugarcane, and cotton. As part of its strategic drive, NRCI plans to broaden the demonstrations of maize-soybean intercropping into additional districts, primarily targeting Punjab. The intercropping technology, which has already been tested by over 1,000 farmers, has…
Islamabad, Nov 8: CCP issues report on state of competition in Power Sector. The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has officially released its detailed research report titled “State of Competition in the Key Markets in Pakistan: Power Sector.” The report highlights the significant presence and impact of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) on competition within the power sector, offering strategic insights for fostering a more competitive market environment. Chairman of CCP, Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, in his message emphasized the critical role of a competitive power sector in driving economic growth and ensuring affordable energy for consumers. “This report is a testament…
Islamabad, Nov 8: 12-Point Anti-Smog Advisory Issued for Islamabad and Rawalpindi to Combat Worsening Air Quality. As the air quality index (AQI) in Rawalpindi and Islamabad reached 200, the district administrations, along with health, education, and environmental departments, issued a comprehensive 12-point anti-smog advisory for citizens. The guidelines aim to reduce exposure to harmful air pollution and emphasize several precautionary measures for public safety, including the use of masks and maintaining hygiene. Citizens are advised to wear masks outdoors, wash hands, faces, and eyes frequently, and wear protective eyewear to prevent irritation from polluted air. To further minimize exposure, households…
Islamabad, Nov 8: VEON and Jazz Discuss Financial Services, Data Centers, and Cloud Initiatives for Pakistan’s Digital Transformation in Meeting with PM. Senior executives from VEON Group, along with Jazz’s leadership team, recently had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss significant investments aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s digital transformation. VEON and Jazz highlighted their dedication to Pakistan as a growing market, outlining plans for strategic developments in digital banking, financial services, data centers, software, and cloud infrastructure to promote economic growth and digital inclusion. The delegation featured VEON Group Founder Augie K. Fabela, Group CEO Kaan Terzioğlu, and…
Islamabad, Nov 8: Qatar Delays Delivery of 5 LNG Cargoes to Pakistan Until 2026 Amid Supply Adjustments. A newly concluded deal between Qatar and Pakistan, in response to Pakistan’s request to manage an anticipated LNG excess, has delayed the delivery of five LNG cargo cargoes originally scheduled for 2025 to 2026. Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy confirmed this delay, pointing to a notable drop in gas use as a result of a slowdown in economic activity and decreased industrial demand. As a result, the lower consumption has affected Pakistan’s LNG requirements, resulting in a current surplus of 18 cargoes for 2025.…
Islamabad, Nov 8: LHC Orders Early Market Closures to Combat Rising Smog Levels. The Lahore High Court (LHC) has recently escalated its efforts to address the growing smog issue in Lahore by implementing strict regulations aimed at lowering pollution rates. In light of petitions that pointed out the government’s insufficient response to this problem, the court has undertaken definitive actions to tackle air quality issues in the city. In a recent session, the LHC mandated that Early Market Closures by 8 p.m. each day and enforced a work-from-home policy for private sectors two days a week. Furthermore, markets are required…
Islamabad, Nov 7: Windows 11 Update Expands Compatibility for Software and Apps on ARM PCs. A recent Windows 11 preview build brings notable enhancements for Arm-based PCs. Build 27744 includes an updated Prism emulator that now supports additional CPU extensions like AVX, AVX2, BMI, FMA, and F16C. This advancement enables Arm devices, such as those using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus SoCs, to execute previously incompatible x86 applications and games, including resource-intensive titles like Starfield and Helldivers 2, along with professional video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro 2025. The update also features a user-friendly on-screen gamepad…
