Islamabad, Sep 21: Due to significant diplomatic obligations and the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, which is scheduled to take place in Islamabad, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will not be traveling to New York for the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokeswoman for the Foreign Office, released the statement in response to rumors in the media that the deputy prime minister will be attending the UNGA session. She clarified that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s agenda for the Session…
Author: Iqra Khan
Islamabad, Sep 21: Here at the Élysée Palace, President Emmanuel Macron received a credential presentation from Dr. Zahoor Ahmed, Pakistan’s ambassador to Madrid, Spain, as well as from the country’s ambassador accredited to Andorra. With two Heads of State (Co-Princes, the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell), Andorra has a unique political structure. According to a news release released on Saturday, ambassadors accredited to Andorra are expected to present their credentials to both of them. President Macron mentioned the Principality of Andorra’s historic dual head-state structure. He described Andorra as a special nation. Having been to each of…
Islamabad, Sep 21: The Finance Division, the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises (CCoSOEs) had a virtual meeting under the direction of Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue. The Board of Directors of Pakistan Revenue Automation (PRAL) was to be reconstituted in accordance with the State Owned Enterprises Act 2023, according to a proposal made by the Revenue Division. In accordance with Section (1) of Section 10 of the Enterprises (Governance and Operations) Act, 2023, the meeting took into consideration the recommendation made by the Board Nominations Committee for five majority independent directors and four ex-officio members.…
Islamabad, Sep 21: In order to improve security, Karachi has formally launched the first phase of its Safe City Project, which involves placing 25 surveillance cameras in five strategic places. The Central Police Office (CPO) Command and Control Center continuously monitors live footage as part of the project, which is managed by the Sindh Safe Cities Authority. The Sindh Safe Cities Authority’s Director General, Asif Ijaz Sheikh, reports that 43 poles have been put throughout the city thus far. The purpose of the monitoring system is to help law enforcement reduce crime and enhance public safety. In order to assist…
Islamabad, Sep 21: Launching an internship program in keeping with the Chief Minister’s youth-focused vision is the Lahore Development Authority (LDA). Twelve students have joined the Town Planning Wing in its initial phase. Students from the city’s top colleges can apply for internships through this program. In cooperation with university staff, twelve students from different programs at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) were chosen to collaborate with the Town Planning Wing. Additionally, town planning, urban development, metropolitan planning, and engineering wings will all be practical experiences for interns. In welcoming the interns, LDA Director General Tahir Farooq said…
Islamabad, Sep 21: Google Mocks Apple for Delayed Adoption of RCS Messaging. Google has continued to poke fun at Apple’s iPhone with the introduction of the newest version of its well-liked BestPhonesForever ad campaign. The series, which personifies both companies’ smartphones, is well-known for its lighthearted criticism of Apple’s mobile devices. This new advertisement highlights Apple’s acceptance of the RCS (Rich Communication Services) standard, a noteworthy recent advancement in mobile messaging. After years of constant advocacy from Google, Apple eventually integrated RCS functionality with iOS 18, which was released earlier this week. The introduction of RCS is a significant milestone…
Islamabad, Sep 21: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), while taking action against retailers advertising discounts as “up to a percentage” during the “End of Season Sales” issued notices to 20 brands, seeking clarification on their potentially misleading discount practices. Such unspecified discount offers are akin to ‘Bait and Switch Advertising’ defined as a tactic to mislead buyers, whereby a seller advertises an appealing but spurious offer to sell a product or service that the seller does not actually intend to sell. Instead, the seller offers an unwanted alternative which is prohibited under Section 10 of the Act as Deceptive…
Islamabad, Sep 20: Abdul Aleem Khan, the federal minister for privatization and communications, has pushed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to finish developing its online highway system as soon as possible. During his speech in Lahore, the minister emphasized that 92% of motorists currently use M-tags to pay for tolls. He urged carriers to utilize this technique in order to facilitate transactions. Khan directed the NHA to implement high-tech systems akin to those seen in industrialized nations, emphasizing the necessity of cutting-edge technology. Additionally, he emphasized how crucial it is for the NHA and Motorway Police to work together to…
Islamabad, Sep 20: The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reports that the Sensitive Price Index (SPI)-based inflation for the week ending September 19, 2024, grew by 12.72 percent year over year. Arif Habib Limited (AHL) reports that this year-over-year number is the lowest since October 2021. Gas costs for Q1 (570 percent), onions (74.62 percent), pulse gram (57.34 percent), powdered milk (25.45 percent), beef (25.31 percent),tomatoes (17.98 percent), pulse moong (16.41 percent), cooked daal (15.65 percent), and salt powder (15.38 percent) were the main causes of the year-over-year increase. The prices of diesel (5 percent), onions (4.45 percent), gasoline (3.88…
Islamabad, Sep 20: Hashoo Foundation opened the “Crafts of Compassion” store at Shelton’s Rezidor in Peshawar in partnership with UNHCR, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees. This program, which is a component of UNHCR’s Livelihoods Improvement & Vocational Education Hospitality Management Training (LIVE-HMT) Project, highlights the extraordinary skill and workmanship of Afghan refugees and represents a critical step in the direction of their financial empowerment and independence. A number of notable guests attended the opening, including the Commissioner of the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government officials, CEO of the Hashoo Foundation Haris Qayyum…
