Islamabad, Nov 13: Punjab Imposes Ban on Wedding Events from October to December Amid Rising Smog Concerns. The government of Punjab has announced an extensive anti-smog strategy presented to the Lahore High Court, which includes new restrictions aimed at reducing pollution during peak smog months. Starting next year, weddings will be prohibited from October to December. This initiative aims to address pollution by minimizing activities that greatly add to traffic and energy usage throughout the smog season. The Advocate General of Punjab informed the court about the initiative, emphasizing that, for the first time, a specific budget has been allocated…
Author: Iqra Khan
Islamabad, Nov 13: Pakistani Baseball Star Welcomed as Hero After Historic Triumph. The pitcher for the Pakistani Baseball Team, Faisal Hayat, was greeted as a hero upon his return from the Arab Classic Tournament that took place in the UAE. At just 21 years old, he played a key role in leading Pakistan to victory in the championship, remaining undefeated during the entire competition. Upon arriving back in his hometown of Chakkoki in Punjab Province, Faisal was met with a warm reception from his community, with hundreds gathering to celebrate their hero. A festive gathering was also held in his…
Islamabad, Nov 13: Pakistan Sports Board Issues Warning to PFF Over ‘Unauthorized’ Meeting. The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has requested that the Normalization Committee (NC) of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) cancel its intentions to hold an Extraordinary Congress meeting on November 19, suggesting instead to follow the constitutionally required procedure of first notifying the office-bearers from the provincial associations. In a direct letter to NC Chairman Haroon Malik, the PSB challenged Malik’s claim of acting as the PFF president, a position that is currently vacant within the existing legal framework of the PFF. “Without an officially recognized PFF president,…
Islamabad, Nov 13: FBR Expected to Implement Reduced Sales Tax on Petroleum Products. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is contemplating the introduction of a reduced sales tax rate ranging from 3 to 5 percent on petroleum products to address the expected revenue shortfall in the fiscal year 2024-25. In the discussions for the 2024-25 budget, the proposal to apply an 18 percent standard sales tax on POL products was rejected by the prime minister due to its inflationary effects, which would immediately affect the general population. According to sources, the proposal for a lower sales tax rate on petroleum…
Islamabad, Nov 13: Lahore currently ranks as the most polluted city in Pakistan, based on real-time air quality data from IQAir. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city has surged to a critical level of 435, raising serious health concerns for the local population. Other major cities in Punjab, including Multan and Rawalpindi, are also facing alarmingly high pollution levels, securing the second and third positions on the list. This ranking highlights a troubling trend of elevated AQI levels throughout the country, with particular severity in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The air quality in these areas has deteriorated to…
Islamabad, Nov 13: OGDC Begins Production at New Exploratory Well in Balochistan, Boosting Regional Output. Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (PSX: OGDC) announced on Wednesday that it has initiated production from the Uch-35 development well in Balochistan. The well, drilled to a depth of 1,345 meters using the Company’s internal expertise, aimed to explore the hydrocarbon potential of the Sui Main Limestone (SML) formation. Currently, Uch-35 is generating 5 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas. Following the installation of an 8-inch diameter, 1.2-kilometer flow line, the well has been linked to the OGDC Uch Gas Processing…
Islamabad, Nov 13: Powerful Earthquake Shakes Multiple Regions Across Pakistan, Sparks Widespread Alarm on Wednesday. A sudden earthquake jolted residents in Islamabad and several other areas throughout Pakistan, with social media users quickly labeling it as a “strong jolt.” Individuals in the impacted regions took to different social media platforms to share their experiences and voice their worries regarding the tremor’s intensity.The unexpected earthquake led many to leave buildings and congregate in open spaces for safety. The tremor has been measured at 5.3 in intensity, originating from a depth of 220 kilometers in the Hindukush region. Authorities have not yet…
Islamabad, Nov 13: The UK set to help over 250,000 children in Pakistan access better education. Through the service delivery component of Girls and Out of School Children’s Action for Learning (GOAL) programme, Khilo aur Barho, the UK’s £20 million contribution will help break down barriers to education, enhance literacy and numeracy skills, and strengthen a resilient and effective education system in Pakistan over the next three years. Funded by the British High Commission, Pakistan, and delivered by the British Council, the service delivery component of Girls and Out of School Children’s Action for Learning (GOAL) programme, Khilo aur Barho…
Islamabad, Nov 13: IMF Considers Return to Quarterly Reviews Amid Pakistan’s Target Challenges. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is considering a return to a quarterly review system for Pakistan’s $7 billion bailout program due to initial challenges faced by the program. A decision has not yet been made, but this adjustment would enable more effective monitoring of nearly 40 program conditions, according to the Express Tribune. In July, the IMF board sanctioned the bailout with an initial disbursement of $1.1 billion. The remaining funds are set to be released in six biannual tranches contingent upon the successful completion of reviews.…
Islamabad, Nov 13: PM Shehbaz Urges Redefining Climate Finance Framework to Aid Developing Nations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called on the global community to reconsider climate finance to help climate-vulnerable developing nations achieve their NDC targets, which may require approximately US$6.8 trillion by 2030. While addressing a high-level climate finance roundtable at COP29, a multilateral forum for international climate negotiations hosted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the prime minister highlighted the urgent need for reforming the international financial system to ensure that no country is excluded from the global effort against climate change.…
