Islamabad, Dec 13: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is preparing for its 10th season, scheduled to run from April 8 to May 19, 2024, according to sources. Newly appointed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO Salman Naseer has already begun holding online meetings to ensure smooth preparations, with the player draft for PSL 10 set for January 11. The PCB aims to invite prominent players who went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to join the PSL. However, the current salary cap of $200,000 per player has raised concerns, with both the PCB and franchise owners worried that this limit…
Author: Mawadat Fatima
Islamabad, Dec 13: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a partnership with Huawei Technologies during her visit to China to transform Lahore into Pakistan’s first smart city. The collaboration aims to integrate advanced digital solutions to improve urban living and infrastructure. During her visit to Huawei’s headquarters in Longgang District, Shanghai, CM Maryam Nawaz was warmly welcomed and extended an invitation for Huawei to invest more in Pakistan, especially in Punjab. She proposed the establishment of a Huawei office at Nawaz Sharif IT City and assured full support for setting up assembly and manufacturing plants in the province. Additionally, she…
Islamabad, Dec 13: The World Bank has approved $240 million in financing for the Second Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP-2) to enhance water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Karachi. According to Najy Benhassine, the World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, “Safely managed WASH services are the foundation of public health and quality of life and are central to addressing the stunting crisis in Pakistan.” KWSSIP-2 will build on its predecessor project (KWSSIP-1) and expand investments in bulk water augmentation, water treatment, wastewater treatment, water distribution, and sewer network rehabilitation. It aims to benefit around half of…
Islamabad, Dec 13: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) is set to introduce cash-settled futures and options, with testing scheduled for March 2025, according to Bloomberg. PSX CEO Farrukh H Sabzwari explained that this move aims to enhance derivatives trading by reducing the capital requirements for traders and improving market liquidity. Currently, PSX offers deliverable futures, where positions are settled through the delivery or acceptance of shares. The introduction of cash-settled futures is expected to address liquidity challenges near contract expiry. Pakistan’s stock market has experienced a remarkable 170% surge over the past 18 months, largely due to economic stabilization and…
Islamabad, Dec 13: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will not be launching the New Uraan Pakistan National Economic Transformation Plan (NETEP) 2024-2029 today. The Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives issued a statement announcing that the event, initially scheduled for December 13, 2024, has been postponed due to unavoidable reasons. A new date for the launch will be announced shortly. The economic plan aims to guide Pakistan toward sustainable and high economic growth, targeting a rise in the country’s economy from its current size of $374 billion to $1 trillion by 2035. Key objectives include achieving an annual economic growth…
Islamabad, Dec 13: The Pakistan Meteorological Department has reported record-low temperatures across the country and parts of Kashmir on December 13, 2024. Freezing conditions were recorded in many regions, with Leh experiencing the lowest temperature of -12°C. Other notable low temperatures include Astore at -11°C, Skardu at -9°C, and Quetta, Kalam, and Gupis, each at -6°C. Hunza, Bagrot, Ziarat, and Kalat followed closely at -5°C, while Gilgit, Chitral, and Dir recorded -4°C. Minimum temperatures in major cities included: Islamabad: 0°C Lahore: 5°C Karachi: 12°C Peshawar: 2°C Quetta: -6°C Gilgit: -4°C Muzaffarabad: 2°C Skardu: -9°C Murree: -1°C Faisalabad: 4°C Multan: 6°C…
Islamabad, Dec 13: Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (PSX: OGDC) announced a new gas and condensate discovery in the Samanasuk formation, located in the exploratory zone at the Bettani-02 (Slant) well in District Laki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The company shared this development in a filing with the stock exchange on Friday. OGDC holds a 100% working interest as the operator of the Wali Exploration License. The Bettani-02 (Slant) well, initially drilled as an appraisal well, reached a depth of 5,080 meters into the Shinawari formation. During drilling, the 247-meter-thick Samanasuk formation was encountered. A Cased Hole DST-1 test was…
Islamabad, Dec 13: In a bid to strengthen educational ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, the government of Pakistan has announced the launch of the Pakistan-Bangladesh Friendship Scholarship Programme, which will offer 300 fully funded scholarships to Bangladeshi students. This initiative, discussed in a meeting at the Ministry of Education on Thursday, is designed to encourage academic collaboration and enhance mutual understanding between the two nations. The scholarships will cover various fields of study, including engineering, medicine, social sciences, arts, humanities, business education, computer science, agriculture, and more. This program is being facilitated through a consortium of top Pakistani universities, such…
Islamabad, Dec 13: Pakistan has witnessed a concerning rise in polio cases this year after remaining polio-free for 14 months between 2021 and 2022. According to the Senate Standing Committee on Health, 59 cases have been reported across the country, with 19 resulting in mild disabilities and 10 in severe disabilities. This alarming resurgence was discussed in detail during a committee meeting chaired by Senator Aamir Waliuddin Chishti on Thursday, where officials briefed the members on the ongoing efforts to combat the virus. Dr. Mukhtar Bharath, Health Coordinator, highlighted the role of the National Health Institute in addressing the polio…
Islamabad, Dec 13: The Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) announced that the second annual matriculation examination will begin on January 1. The exams will be held in two shifts: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Admit cards for both science and general group students, including regular and private candidates, will be issued shortly. The detailed exam schedule is as follows: January 1 First Shift: Islamic Studies/Ethics for Science and General Group January 2 First Shift: Biology (Paper I), Computer Studies (Paper I), General Science (Paper I) Second Shift: Commercial Geography, Geography (Optional), Clothing and…
