Islamabad, Oct 7: The Bank of Punjab (BOP) has successfully arranged a long-term Foreign Currency (FCY) On-lending Facility of USD 54.2 Million (Credit Facility) from Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the French state development finance agency. This Credit Facility is intended for onward lending to climate adaptation and mitigation projects and activities in Pakistan. In addition to the Credit Facility, AFD is also providing BOP a Grant Facility of EUR 675 thousand to support a technical assistance program. This concessional Credit Facility marks the first-ever FCY facility arranged by any commercial bank specifically tied to climate financing in Pakistan. Additionally,…
Author: Mawadat Fatima
Islamabad, Oct 5: Following a significant hike in gold prices a day earlier, Pakistan saw a minor decline in rates on Saturday, reflecting international trends. According to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price of 24-karat gold per tola decreased by Rs700, bringing it to Rs275,500. In addition, the price of 10 grams of 24-karat gold dropped by Rs600, closing at Rs236,197. Internationally, gold prices also saw a slight dip, trading at $2,653 per ounce, down by $7 for the day. Meanwhile, silver prices in the local market remained stable at Rs3,050 per tola.
Islamabad, Oct 5: Isuzu has introduced a new installment plan for its highly popular DMAX – V Cross pickup truck, offering an easy payment option to make it more accessible to a wider audience. Known for its rugged build and excellent off-road capabilities, the DMAX – V Cross can now be purchased with a 40% down payment and 16 monthly installments of Rs. 495,000 each. Key Specifications of the DMAX – V Cross: Engine: 3.0L turbo diesel engine producing 163 hp and 380 Nm of torque. Transmission: Available in 6-speed automatic or manual gearbox options. Drive: Equipped with a 4×4…
Islamabad, Oct 5: Govt School Ends 28-Year Dominance of Private Schools in Karachi Matric Exams In a historic achievement, Hafiz Abdul Rafay Tariq, a student from Delhi Government Boys Secondary School in Karimabad, has topped the 2024 Matric Science annual examinations conducted by the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK). Rafay’s remarkable score of 94.55% (1040/1100) marks the first time since 1996 that a government school student has secured the top position in these exams, breaking a 28-year dominance by private institutions. His father, Tariq Mehboob, a mathematics teacher at the same school, played a significant role in his success.…
Islamabad, Oct 5: Google is testing a new feature that adds verified checkmarks to search results, a move reminiscent of the exclusivity once associated with verified badges on social media platforms before Elon Musk’s overhaul on X. Currently, this feature is available to a limited group of users, and its purpose is to authenticate company links, providing a layer of trust amidst Google’s ongoing spam issues. While this development could enhance user confidence when browsing, it also has limitations. Influencers and media personalities, for instance, are currently excluded from the checkmark system. Moreover, Google has emphasized that these badges do…
Islamabad, Oct 5: Ben Stokes Ruled Out of First Test Against Pakistan Due to Injury England’s preparations for their upcoming Test series against Pakistan have hit a snag with the news that Ben Stokes, the team’s star all-rounder and captain, will miss the first Test in Multan due to an ongoing hamstring injury. This injury, which Stokes sustained two months ago during The Hundred, has not yet healed fully. In his absence, Ollie Pope, the 26-year-old batter and unofficial vice-captain, will lead the English side for the first Test. Pope, who has captained the team to a 2-1 series victory…
Islamabad, Oct 5: The Small Industries Development Board (SIDB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced an increase in the minimum wage for daily-wage employees to Rs. 36,000/-. The decision, made on Friday, was implemented following a request from the Employees Union and a recommendation from a committee chaired by Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Nauman Fayyaz. The wage increase will benefit employees in the wood sector as well as 45 other board employees. Habib Ullah Arif, the Managing Director of SIDB, issued the orders. Sahibzada Naseem Khan, President of the SIDB Employees Union, expressed gratitude to the provincial government and the SIDB management…
Islamabad, Oct 5: A major fraud within Pakistan Railways has been uncovered, exposing a fake recruitment scandal where individuals were deceived into paying large sums for non-existent jobs. Victims were given fake appointment letters and assigned duties at places like Lahore Railway Station and the Diesel Shed, believing they had secured legitimate employment. Sources reveal that this scam extorted millions from hopeful jobseekers, who worked for about a month before realizing they had been defrauded. The Railway Police in Lahore have registered a case against several suspects, including Arsalan, Iftikhar Ahmed (a Station Master), a clerk, and Platform Inspector Usman.…
Islamabad, Oct 5: Tencent Set to Acquire Ubisoft in Potential Buyout, Reshaping Gaming Industry A recent Bloomberg report hints at a potential buyout of video game giant Ubisoft following its recent struggles, including a significant decline in stock value and criticism from both gamers and investors. Tencent, a Chinese tech company, and the Guillemot family, who founded Ubisoft, are reportedly exploring ways to stabilize the company, possibly by removing it from public stock exchange listings. These discussions follow increasing shareholder pressure for changes, particularly after disappointing sales of Star Wars Outlaws led to a sharp decline in Ubisoft’s stock value,…
Islamabad, Oct 5: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced the preliminary squad for the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024, which will take place in Nepal from October 17 to 30. The team is currently in a training camp in Islamabad, preparing for the competition. Squad Overview: Goalkeepers: Nisha Ashraf, Mafia Parveen, Rumaysa Khan Defenders: Kayla Siddiqi, Mishal Bhatti, Sarah Khan, Nizalia Siddiqi, Sophia Qureshi, Fatima Nasir, Mehreen Khan, Khadija Wali Midfielders: Suha Hirani, Maria Khan, Sanah Mehdi, Amina Hanif, Rameen Fareed, Kayanat Bokhari Forwards: Nadia Khan, Zahmena Malik, Isra Khan, Anmol Hira, Anushey Usman, Aliya Sadiq, Eman Mustafa The team…
