Islamabad, Sep 19: Sri Lanka vs New Zealand ended Day 1 at 302-7 after a solid recovery led by Kamindu Mendis, who scored a fine 114. Mendis, promoted up the order to No. 5, rescued the hosts from a precarious 178-5 alongside Kusal Mendis (50) in a crucial 103-run stand for the sixth wicket. Kamindu reached his fourth Test century, continuing his remarkable run in just his seventh Test. Sri Lanka vs New Zealand pace bowler William O’Rourke, playing in Asian conditions for the first time, took 3-54, removing both Sri Lankan openers early. Angelo Mathews was forced to retire…
Author: Mawadat Fatima
Islamabad, Sep 19: The New Covid19 Variant XEC is spreading rapidly and has now been detected in 27 countries, including the UK, US, and Denmark, after first emerging in Germany in June 2024. This variant, a sublineage of Omicron, combines elements of earlier subvariants KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, making it more transmissible. Experts warn that the XEC variant, which has triggered a significant rise in cases across Europe and beyond, could become the dominant strain in the coming months. While the new Covid 19 XEC variant, symptoms—high temperature, fatigue, body aches, cough, and sore throat—remain similar to those of other variants, vaccinations…
Islamabad, Sep 18; The Gorakh Hill Off-Road Bike Rally will take place from September 29 to October 1, promising an exhilarating fusion of Sindh’s cultural heritage and the thrill of Motocross biking. The event, dubbed “Where Passion Meets Tradition,” will attract riders from across Pakistan to showcase their skills on the challenging terrain of Gorakh Hill Station, located at an elevation of 5,500 feet. The official promotional video for the rally captures the stunning beauty and demanding routes of Gorakh Hill, emphasizing the event’s blend of natural splendor and biking excitement. With renowned bikers participating, the rally aims to celebrate…
Islamabad, Sep 18: Transport fares across Punjab have been reduced by Rs. 30 to Rs. 70 following a recent decrease in petroleum prices. Provincial Minister for Information Uzma Bukhari announced the fare reduction, attributing the decision to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and her team. This adjustment makes Punjab the only province to lower transport fares in response to falling fuel prices, with excess charges refunded to passengers. Bukhari emphasized that district administration teams are inspecting bus terminals to ensure compliance with the new fare structure. Transporters who do not adhere to the reduction will face strict action. The fare cuts…
Islamabad, Sep 18: Suno, the AI-powered music creation platform, has introduced a new feature called **Covers**, which allows users to reimagine existing songs in various genres. Currently in beta, this tool transforms audio inputs—ranging from casual recordings to professionally produced tracks—by preserving the original melody while applying new stylistic interpretations. Users can access Covers by selecting a track from their library and choosing the “Cover Song” option. Suno’s AI processes the track, adapting it to the selected genre. Additionally, the feature can add genre-appropriate lyrics to instrumental tracks, though Suno suggests users refine these lyrics to ensure they fit well.…
Islamabad, Sep 18: The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has announced a major educational reform initiative involving the outsourcing of approximately 6,000 government schools. The move, intended to address challenges in the education sector, will be implemented in phases, with the first phase involving 5,800 schools. In her address during the Lahore ceremony, CM Sharif emphasized her commitment to understanding public concerns and countered misinformation about the initiative. She clarified that the outsourcing is not influenced by contractors or external pressures and addressed misleading claims about contractors taking over schools. The reform aims to improve school…
Islamabad, Sep 18: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved Rs1.5 billion for the repair of roads damaged by rainfall in Karachi this year. During a recent meeting, CM Shah instructed the Local Government Department to investigate the quality of roads constructed or repaired since 2022 that have been washed away, emphasizing that substandard work must be addressed with strict action. The damage includes: District South: 909,500 square feet District East: 795,000 square feet District Central: 832,000 square feet District West: 13,750,000 square feet District Korangi: 5,555,000 square feet District Malir: 625,000 square feet Flyovers and bridges: 395,000…
Islamabad, Sep 18: On Wednesday, the price of 24 karat gold per tola decreased by Rs.300 to Rs.267,700, down from Rs.268,000 on the last trading day. The price for 10 grams of 24 karat gold dropped by Rs.257 to Rs.229,510, while 10 grams of 22 karat gold decreased to Rs.210,384 from Rs.210,620. Silver prices remained unchanged with per tola silver at Rs.2,950 and 10-gram silver at Rs.2,529.14. Internationally, gold prices fell by $18 to $2,569 from $2,587. On September 16, gold prices in Pakistan had previously risen, aligning with the international market increase, with per tola gold reaching Rs.268,000 and…
Islamabad, Sep 18: Gross foreign exchange inflows through Roshan Digital Accounts (RDAs) reached $165 million in August 2024, up from $161 million in July 2024 and $130 million in August 2023. Net inflows, after deducting repatriated funds, totaled $143 million, slightly lower than the six-month average of $169 million. As of the end of August 2024, total RDA funds have accumulated to $8.581 billion, with $1.646 billion repatriated and $5.441 billion used domestically. The net repatriable liability stands at $1.494 billion. Since RDA’s launch in September 2020, net investments reached $1.036 billion, with $370 million in Conventional NPC investments, $638…
Islamabad, Sep 18: Pakistan’s exports experienced a notable 14.42% increase during the first two months of the fiscal year, surpassing $5 billion, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Key Contributing Sectors: Food Products: Exports surged by 42.39%, generating over $1 billion, driven by rice, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, sugar, and meat. Textiles: This key sector saw a 5.37% increase, with exports exceeding $2.91 billion. Items such as cotton fabrics, ready-made garments, knitwear, and bed linens showed significant growth. Other Sectors: Exports of petroleum products, leather gloves, footwear, chemicals, and medicines also saw positive trends, contributing to the overall rise. This…
