Islamabad, Nov 16: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently concluded discussions with Pakistani authorities, describing the talks as constructive. These discussions, led by IMF Mission Chief Nathan Porter, took place from November 12 to 15 and centered on reviewing the government’s economic strategies and performance to ensure sustainable development. Porter praised the collaborative nature of the talks and commended the Pakistani authorities for their positive approach. He highlighted that the discussions covered important aspects of economic policy and reform aimed at reducing risks and fostering long-term growth. The talks involved both federal and provincial governments, officials from the State…
Author: Mawadat Fatima
Islamabad, Nov 16: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has instructed universities and colleges in Lahore and Multan to close down due to the severe smog affecting the region. An official notification announced that classes would be conducted online to protect students and staff from hazardous air quality. Additionally, all schools across Punjab, except for Murree, will remain closed until November 24 as part of the government’s efforts to minimize public exposure to worsening pollution. The Punjab government has also imposed restrictions on outdoor activities, urging citizens to wear masks and limit unnecessary outings. In Lahore and Multan, a three-day lockdown…
Islamabad, Nov 16: Punjab Considers Outsourcing Middle and High Schools to Private Sector for Improved Efficiency The Punjab School Education Department has finalized plans to privatize 500 public middle and high schools by the end of November, following the earlier privatization of 4,500 primary schools. This decision has sparked strong opposition from educators, who have organized a major sit-in protest in Lahore. This month, the department will announce the privatization of middle and high schools. Additionally, 4,500 primary schools have already been transferred to private ownership, and applications for the sale of another 7,500 primary schools are being accepted until…
Islamabad, Nov 16: Pakistan’ Textile Exports Grow 10% in 4MFY25, Boosting Industry Confidence. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported a 10.44% increase in the country’s textile exports during the first four months of the fiscal year 2024-25 (July-October), reaching $6.146 billion compared to $5.565 billion in the same period last year. Overall exports during this period rose by 13.55%, amounting to $10.889 billion, compared to $9.590 billion in the corresponding timeframe of the previous year. In October 2024, exports totaled $2.984 billion, reflecting a 5.22% month-on-month (MoM) increase from $2.836 billion in September 2024 and a 10.97% year-on-year (YoY)…
Islamabad, Nov 16: Snapchat Will Let Parents Track Children with Automatic Alerts in New Update Snapchat, once celebrated for its disappearing messages, is evolving into a location-focused social media app with the introduction of real-time location-sharing. This new feature, part of the Family Center, allows family members to share their live locations, enabling parents and teens to request updates from each other. Parents can also oversee location-sharing preferences to enhance safety. Additionally, users can set notifications to inform family members when someone arrives at or leaves specific places, such as home or school. The launch of this feature comes amidst…
Islamabad, Nov 16: The prices of solar batteries have seen a significant decline, coinciding with a record drop in solar panel prices across the country. Dealers have reported a 20% reduction in solar battery costs. For instance, the price of a lithium solar battery has decreased from 450,000 PKR to 380,000 PKR, while tubular batteries, previously priced at 70,000 PKR, are now available for 55,000 PKR. The cost of solar panels has also reached an unprecedented low, with the per-watt price dropping to 28 PKR. Efforts by major importers to increase prices to 33 PKR per watt proved unsuccessful. Meanwhile,…
Islamabad, Nov 16: The Punjab government has made a significant breakthrough in combating smog through a successful cloud seeding operation using locally developed technology. The Provincial Meteorological Department reported that the initiative resulted in artificial rainfall across Jhelum, Gujar Khan, Chakwal, and Talagang . Conducted around 2 pm, the operation produced showers in the targeted areas within hours, sparking optimism that similar efforts could help mitigate Lahore’s severe smog problem. The operation was a collaborative effort involving experts from Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division (SPD), Army Aviation, PARCO, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Punjab government. This partnership underscores the…
Islamabad, Nov 16: Lahore, the capital of Punjab, recorded Pakistan’s highest Air Quality Index (AQI) on Thursday morning, reaching a hazardous level of 722, as reported by IQAir. This alarming figure places the city in a critical position, significantly surpassing the safe AQI threshold of 50. Karachi followed closely behind with an AQI of 188, while Rawalpindi ranked third with an AQI of 183. Other cities, including Peshawar, Islamabad, and Haripur, also reported concerning air quality levels, ranging from unhealthy to moderate. Experts attribute Lahore’s escalating pollution to industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and crop burning in neighboring regions. The intense…
Islamabad, Nov 16: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has strongly criticized the response of the Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) Normalization Committee (NC) to its concerns, describing it as “insufficient and lacking substance.” In a pointed letter sent on Friday, the PSB demanded a more detailed and meaningful reply to its initial letter, dated November 11, 2024. The took issue with the NC’s response, submitted on November 13, noting that it failed to directly address the board’s concerns and instead focused on vague generalities and self-praise about the NC’s accomplishments. The PSB original communication raised several significant procedural issues, stressing their…
Islamabad, Nov 16: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced its updated central contracts for 16 women cricketers for the 2024-25 season, effective from July 1, 2024. The new contracts reflect a stronger focus on rewarding recent performances and developing emerging players. In contrast to the previous two-year contracts awarded to 20 players, this year’s list has been reduced to 16 players. The PCB has introduced new names and adjusted categories to better represent the athletes’ recent contributions on the field. Key Promotions Fatima Sana, the team captain, and wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali have been promoted to Category A in recognition…
