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Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi Wednesday said that United States of America (US) is Pakistan’s most important economic and strategic partner. Speaking to the US Congressmen Thomas Richard Suozzi and Jack Bergman, who belong to Democrat and Republican parties, respectively, in Washington, Mohsin Naqvi said that Pakistan greatly valued the assistance the US had provided it in various sectors. “Pakistan attaches special importance to its ties with the USA,” he added. Naqvi went on to say that Pakistan wanted to further expand collaboration with the USA. He expressed the hope that the congressmen’s visit to Pakistan would help further strengthen the relations between the two countries. The interior minister invited the congressmen to visit Pakistan. Read more: NADRA to launch new mobile app, announces Naqvi Speaking on the occasion, Congressman Suozzi said that his country was committed to further improving relations with Pakistan. “I will visit Pakistan soon,” he added. Matters of...

American pop superstar Taylor Swift is reportedly set to perform in India for the first time, at the wedding of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s son. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu – Click Here As reported by Indian media, popstar Taylor Swift is in talks for her maiden gig in the country, however, at a private event – the wedding of billionaire business tycoon Gautam Adani’s son Jeet. According to the buzz, the impending wedding of Adani Group’s heir Jeet with his fiancee Diva Shah, the daughter of diamond tycoon Jaimin Shah, is expected to be the next big fat Indian wedding, after last year’s spectacle of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. While no dates have been confirmed as yet, they are expected to tie the knot later this year. And if reports are to be believed, talks with Swift are underway to perform at one of their pre-wedding events. Quoting a source close to the development, an Indian publication reported, “Taylor Swift’s team is in talks with the Adanis to perform ...

New Gwadar International Airport has become operational as the first commercial flight successfully landed on Monday, ARY News reported. As per details, PIA flight PK-503, departed from Karachi at 9:50 AM, with 46 passengers on board. The PIA plane touched down on the runway of New Gwadar International Airport at 11:15 AM local time, officially marking the commencement of operations at this state-of-the-art facility. The flight was given a water canon salute. To make this moment even more memorable, the Minister of Defence and Aviation, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and others were present at the airport to extend a warm welcome to the first commercial flight. According to the PIA spokesperson, this is a moment of pride not just for Gwadar but for all of Pakistan, paving the way for economic growth, tourism, and international connectivity in the region. The inauguration of New Gwadar International Airport is the beginning of a new era in air tr...

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KARACHI: Karachi and other districts of Sindh are expected to hit by another wave of cold weather from January 24 with temperatures may plunge. Weather reports said that the cold westerly winds can affect the country, and rainfall could be possible in Balochistan and other parts of the country with snowfall expected in the mountains. The westerly winds expected to bring cold frosty weather until January 23. According to weather reports Sukkur, Jacobabad, Larkana and other districts of Sindh are expected to receive moderate rain through January 21 to 23. The Met Office forecast strong winds of 25 to 35 kilometers per hour speed blowing in Karachi on Saturday. The weather will remain cold and dry in most parts of Sindh with moderate to intense fog expected in Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Dadu, Larkana, Khairpur, Tando Jam and adjoining areas in the night and morning hours. from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/2XMT30w

LAHORE: Anti-Terrorism Court Lahore on Saturday extended interim bail of two sisters of the PTI’s founder in rioting case, ARY News reported. The court extended interim bails of Aleema Khanum and Uzma Khan till February 12 while hearing October 05 arson and rioting case. Prosecution pleaded to the court to extend date for submission of the case record. The ATC Judge expressed resentment over the plea and said that “it is daily routine that the record has not been available”. “What is mistake of the accused to summon them in the court again and again”, judge remarked. “The court has heard the argument the decision will be announced in the next hearing, the judge said. Lahore witnessed violent clashes between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists and police on October 15. The unrest, triggered by a PTI-led protest, quickly intensified as law enforcement used teargas to disperse demonstrators. from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/tgTRmra

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The Sindh government has announced a groundbreaking plan to introduce 8,000 electric buses into the mass transit system in Karachi. The initiative will be rolled out in three phases, aimed at transforming the city’s public transportation. The first phase will see the deployment of 500 buses within the first year. Currently, 50 buses are already operational, covering major routes in Karachi. An additional 1,500 electric buses will be added in the second phase. The final phase will involve the introduction of 4,000 to 6,000 electric buses over the next four years, accompanied by the development of necessary infrastructure, including charging stations, depots, and bus stations. A key component of this project is the development of a solar plant with a capacity of up to 1GW, which is expected to be completed by the end of Phase 3, contributing to the sustainability of the electric buses. Read more: Sindh to hire female drivers for pink buses A pilot project for 50 electric buses (1...

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Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has dismissed rumors regarding his complete bed rest and uncertainty over his participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Taking to the microblogging platform X, Bumrah dismissed the reports as fake news. “I know how easy it is to spread fake news, but this one really made me laugh,” he posted, accompanied by several laughing emojis. On Wednesday, January 15, several Indian media outlets claimed that Jasprit Bumrah, who has been dealing with a back issue, has gone on bed rest and is unlikely to participate in the Champions Trophy. According to reports, Jasprit Bumrah sustained the back injury during the Sydney Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. During the series, he bowled a total of 151.2 overs across five matches and emerged as the most successful bowler, taking 32 wickets. The reports further suggested that the updates on Bumrah’s back condition were not encouraging, adding that he would not rush his return to cricket. ...

Bollywood veteran Jackie Shroff aka Babbar Sher of Varun Dhawan-led ‘Baby John’ , has finally addressed the Box Office failure of the film. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu- Click Here In a new interview with an Indian media outlet, Jackie Shroff reflected on the poor Box office run of his latest release ‘Baby John’ and shared how the producers have been affected by the loss. “The producers do get affected. They put in a lot of money with trust in these projects. And when they do not recover it, that is sad,” he said. “As actors, of course, you want to be liked for your performance, but you also want it to work well.” “ Dukh hota hai par khud ke liye nahi, producers ke liye (You do feel bad, but not for yourself, but for the producers). You tend to do your job with sincerity, but you also have to think about the people who have put in the money,” added the veteran.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Jio Studios (@offi...

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) is set to hear K-Electric’s (KE) request for a monthly adjustment, which may result in a decrease of Rs. 4.98 per unit of electricity for consumers in the city. K-Electric has filed a petition with NEPRA for the monthly adjustment for November 2024. If approved, the reduction will provide a refund of over Rs. 7 billion, to K-Electric consumers. K-Electric has also requested NEPRA to allow the company to refund the excess amount collected from consumers. The NEPRA will conduct hearing on the KE’s plea on Wednesday. Earlier, the NEPRA reduced electricity prices under the monthly Fuel Price Adjustment (FCA), making electricity cheaper for consumers. According to reports, a reduction of 75 paisas per unit has been announced for consumers of government-owned DISCOs under the November FCA. Additionally, a price reduction of 49 paisas per unit has been approved for K-Electric consumers under the October FCA. Back in ...

Chief Meteorologist, Sardar Sarfaraz on Monday said the current cold wave will persist in Karachi until January 17. Karachi city is currently experiencing an increase in the intensity of cold weather. Sardar Sarfaraz in his statement confirmed that the cold spell will last until January 17. During this period, strong winds are expected to blow in the city, with the possibility of northeastern winds at a speed of 25 to 30 kilometers per hour. From January 15, the nighttime temperature in Karachi could drop to single digits, Sardar Sarfaraz added. He also mentioned that western winds are expected to begin from January 17, which will bring a decrease in the cold intensity in Karachi. Read more: Karachi: Mercury further drops, brings cooler weather With humidity levels at 65% coupled with a 20-kilometre-per-hour wind from the northeast, the minimum temperature is expected to hover between 9°C  and 11°C, added the weather department. Meanwhile, with humidity levels at 65% coupl...

KURRAM: Bunkers at Lower Kurram’s Balash Khel and Khar Kali areas likely to demolish from today, as stringent security measures being taken for demolition, ARY News reported on Monday. Assistant Commissioner has said that it is a difficult matter, the authorities trying to begin demolition of bunkers in both areas. The authorities also taking measures to ensure security on the main road. Tull-Para Chinar main road has been closed for 100 days today. The shortage of essential commodities taking its toll resulting in hunger for citizens. Petroleum and diesel stocks have been spent, while power outages have become routine in the region. A shutter-down strike being staged in Para Chinar to protest against prolonged closure of roads. “We are waiting for the promised 170 cargo vehicles relief convoy,” local traders association’s president said. He said the market will remain closed until arrival of the convoy. The district administration has announced that all points of the Kurram peace...

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KURRAM: The authorities have initiated steps to implement the peace agreement brokered between warring tribes for maintenance of peace in strife-torn Kurram district. The preparations have been completed for demolition of bunkers at Balash Khel and Khar Kali as part of the peace process, set to begin today under the peace agreement. The bunkers and fronts will be dismantled on the instructions of the district administration in Lower Kurram. Concerned government officials will be present for demolition of bunkers district administration said. Under the peace agreement, all fronts in the district will be demolished by February 1, and weapons used in the tribal clashes will be collected and disposed of. The agreement was a product of extensive negotiations and aims to bring lasting peace to the region. Trucks carrying essential supplies, including food, beverages, and medicines, have been delivered to the district, offering some relief to the residents enduring the effects of prolong...

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced the half-yearly schedule of Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings on a rolling basis. As per the issued schedule the first meeting of the calendar year 2025 will be convened on Monday January 27 and decisions of the monetary policy committee will be announced later by the governor SBP in a press conference. The next MPC meeting is scheduled on Monday March 10 and the third meeting as per the half yearly schedule will be held on May 5 while the fourth MPC meeting is scheduled on June 16. Read more: SBP slashes policy rate by 200 basis points In its last MPC meeting on December 16, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) slashed policy rate by 200 basis points. It added that the inflation declined to 4.9 percent on a year-to-year basis in November2024, in line with the ‘MPC’s expectations’. “This deceleration was mainly driven by the continued decline in food inflation as well as the phasing out of the impact of the hike in gas tariffs in Nov...

MANDI BAHAUDDIN: At least six persons were killed and seven others injured in a blast in Kot Phulley Shah village in the vicinity of Phalia in Mandi Bahauddin district, ARY News reported on Saturday. Fireworks were being prepared in the house when the blast took place leaving six people including children and women died, while seven others injured in the deadly incident in Mandi Bahauddin district of Punjab. The rooftops of two houses were also collapsed in the fatal incident. Police said that two persons, Amir Shahzad and Imran Ali were preparing fireworks at the upper floor of their house when an electric short circuit caused the explosion. Rescue 1122 and police teams reached to the spot and retrieved bodies and injured from the debris and shifted them to the hospitals of Phalia, Mandi Bahauddin and Gujrat. from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/Zp5nYF7

KARACHI: The buying rate for the Omani Rial in relation to the Pakistan Rupee (PKR) was recorded at Rs721.25, while the selling rate stands at Rs729.75 in the open market on Friday, January 10, 2025. The information provided on the currency website indicated that the Omani Rial (OMR) held steady against the Pakistani Rupee in the open market. The Omani Rial denoted as OMR, serves as the official currency of Oman and is subdivided into 1,000 smaller units called baisa. Conversion of 500 and 1000 OMR to Pakistani Rupees On January 10, the prevailing exchange rate suggests that 500 Rial is equivalent to Rs.360,625 whereas 1,000 OMR amounts to Rs.721,250 in Pakistani currency. Currency rates in PKR to USD, AED, SAR and others It is also important to highlight that the exchange rate of Rs Rs721.25 per OMR in the open market holds considerable significance for the large Pakistani expatriate population living in Oman, which is estimated to number approximately 250,000 individuals invol...

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