RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced free entry for spectators for the remaining days (fourth and fifth) of the first Test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The decision was made keeping in view of the weekend which will allow families and students to turn up in maximum numbers to support their cricketing stars and witness action between the two sides.
The ongoing two-match Test series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
Spectators are required to bring their original CNIC or B-form to enter the stadium and they will be able to watch the action free of cost from any of the VIP enclosures (Imran Khan and Javed Miandad) (for families only) and premium enclosures (Miran Baksh, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir and Yasir Arafat).
The free entry policy does not apply for the tickets purchased for the PCB Gallery or Platinum Box.
Fans who have already brought tickets for the fourth and fifth days will get a refund. Tickets bought online will be automatically refunded to the credit/debit card used for purchase. For tickets purchased at Express Centres, the fans are requested to bring their original ticket to the centre to get a refund.
Additionally, to further facilitate the fans, a free shuttle bus service will continue to operate on two routes on matchdays for ease of access into the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for spectators.
The Route 1 will run from Aviation Ground, Rawal Road, Murree Road to Allama Iqbal Park Entrance Gate while the Route 2 will go from Government Satellite Town College for Boys, 6th Road, Murree Road to Allama Iqbal Park Entrance Gate.
BRUSSELS, Belgium: A group of young officers from the Foreign Service of Pakistan (FSP), currently undergoing diplomatic training at Clingendael Institute in the Netherlands, called on Pakistan’s Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg Ambassador Amna Baloch.
Ambassador Amna Baloch extended a warm welcome to the young officers and congratulated them on their recent induction into the prestigious Foreign Service of Pakistan.
The envoy expressed her confidence in their ability to represent and advance Pakistan’s interests on the global stage, emphasizing the crucial role they will play in the Country’s diplomatic efforts.
During her address, Ambassador Amna Baloch provided the officers with an insightful briefing on the roles and responsibilities of the Embassy. She shared her own experiences and offered a comprehensive overview of the current state and future prospects of Pakistan’s relationships with the European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg and NATO.
The ambassador encouraged the officers to remain informed and actively engage with the ever-changing landscape of international relations, particularly in relation to key partners such as the EU.
The evening concluded with a sumptuous dinner where the young officers had the opportunity to further engage with the ambassador and other Embassy officers to discuss their future roles in Pakistan’s diplomatic missions.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The former Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again reiterated the demand of an open trial of the former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Lt General (retd) Faiz Hameed if he is suspected of fueling the 9th May riots, maintaining that neither it’s a military issue nor a part of any foreign design.
Talking to media at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Friday, Imran Khan said that they are alleging me of conspiring with Faiz Hameed to attack military installations on May 9, 2023 but in fact, I took the only federal-level party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from zero to peak and had been waging a political struggle for the past 28 years within the constitutional boundaries.
آپ اتنا بڑا الزام لگا رہے ہیں کہ فیض سے مل کر 9 مئی کی سازش کی،میں نے زیرو سے پارٹی شروع کی اور 28 سال سے آئین کے اندر رہ کر جدوجہد کر رہا ہوں، اگر 9 مئی میں فیض حمید ملوث تھا تو آپ اوپن ٹرائل کریں، یہ ملٹری کا ایشو ہے نہ ہی سیکرٹ انٹرنیشنل ایشو ہے، عمران خان۔۔۔!!!
Referring to the response attributed to the “unnamed security sources” on media over his demand of Faiz Hameed’s open trial, the former prime minister said that they asked me ‘who am I’, they must know that I am the head of the Country’s largest political party and therefore, entitled to make such a demand.
About the postponement of the PTI public gathering at Tarnol scheduled on August 22, Imran Khan said that he was informed that the matter relates to the sensitive issue of Finality of Prophethood and religious parties were protesting in Islamabad, prompting a fear of chaos; therefore, he called Azam Swati and Barrister Gohar Khan and instructed them to postpone the jalsa.
Otherwise, he added, he was fearing as it would have caused the replica of 9th May riots.
Imran Khan made it clear that he had postponed the PTI jalsa for the last time. He said that the authorities have issued a NOC allowing the party to organize a public gathering in Islamabad on September 8, and now if any obstacles are once again created in the way, the latter would be held responsible.
عمران خان نے نے کہا کہ 8 ستمبر کو آپ کہہ رہے ہیں کہ آپ جلسہ کر سکتے ہو اور NOC بھی مل گیا تو 8 ستمبر کو جلسہ ہر صورت ہونا چاہیے، علیمہ خان pic.twitter.com/n7dDNWC5ma
BRUSSELS, Belgium: The Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels is holding an Art Competition titled “Defence Day” as part of the celebrations to mark the upcoming Country’s Defence Day.
The Defence Day Painting/Poster Competition has been categorized into various age groups i.e. under 8, under 14, and no age limit.
The participants for the Competition have been asked to take a high-resolution photograph of their artwork and send it to the email address parepbrussels@mofa.gov.pk by September 2, 2024 for registration.
The original artwork should be submitted on September 6, 2024 at 3:30 pm.
The dimensions of the original artwork should be 30cm in length and 40cm in width.
The winners of the Defence Day Painting/Poster Competition will be awarded with the certificates.
The Award Distribution Ceremony will be held at September 6, 2024.
Commercial Banks reserves: $5.37 billion, up by $3 million
KARACHI, Pakistan: With a marginal increase of US$ 22 million in a week ended on August 16, 2024, the Country’s total foreign reserves reached US$ 14.67 billion, as per the latest statistics released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
The statistics showed that that the total liquid foreign reserves held by the Country as of August 16, 2024 were US$ 14,667.4 million.
Pakistan’s Liquid Foreign Reserves Position (Aug 16, 2024):
It’s worth noting that like elsewhere around the Pakistan, exchange rates are not fixed in Pakistan as well and they can fluctuate everyday due to a variety of factors including market forces, interest rates, inflation, political & economic stability, and speculation.
On Friday (August 23, 2024), the gold rate for one tola of 24-karat in Karachi, Pakistan, is Rs 262,200.000.
It’s important to note that gold prices in Pakistan are subject to frequent fluctuations based on international market conditions; therefore, they are not fixed. The below rates are sourced from local gold markets and Sarafa Markets in different cities.
Gold Price in Pakistan Today – August 23, 2024 (In PKR)
Gold Rate
24K Gold
22K Gold
21K Gold
18K Gold
Per Tola Gold
262,200.000
240,350.000
229,425.000
196,650.000
Per 10 Gram Gold
224,800.000
206,066.667
196,700.000
168,600.000
Per 1 Gram of Gold
22,480.000
20,606.667
19,670.000
16,860.000
Per Ounce
637,146.000
584,050.500
557,502.750
477,859.500
Today’s gold rate per Tola in Pakistan is Rs 262,200.000 on Friday (August 23, 2024).
Whereas one gram of 24k Gold is being sold at Rs 22,480.000 and 10 grams of 24K Gold are being traded for Rs 224,800.000.
A single ounce of 24k gold is trading at Rs 637,146.000.
Islamabad, Pakistan: The former prime minister Imran Khan who was voted out from office in April 2022 is getting exceptional space in Western media, and over 130 articles have appeared in his favour in European and North American media since he was sent to jail. No such former prime minister of Pakistan got this much space in foreign media although late Benazir Bhutto, Muhammad Khan Junejo, and Mian Nawaz Sharif were sent home but no such response came from foreign media in their favor as Khan is receiving.
Political circles believe that the exceptional media space that Imran is getting in foreign media is due to lobbying firms his party has hired. Some believe it was because his team is sitting in the United States and operating freely from there and meeting foreign journalists. The most lethal misconception is that Imran Khan is getting this favor from foreign media because he was jailed. Another misconception among people is that Project Imran was home-grown and the work of some former members of the Pakistani establishment. Nonetheless, the rise of Imran as a ‘Zionist Project’ was indicated by several personalities like Hakeem Muhammad Saeed, Dr Israr Ahmad, and many more as early as in 1990s. They predicted that Zionists would launch Imran Khan and he would run Pakistan to fulfill the Zionist agenda. Hakeem Saeed authored and compiled over 200 books on religion, medicine, and wisdom. On October 17, 1998, he was martyred in Karachi, when he was brutally shot outside his pharmacy in Aram Bagh. In his book ‘Japan Ki Kahani‘, he predicted Imran Khan of Pakistan had been selected by the Jewish lobby and Zionist television and press have taken Imran Khan hand in hand, CNN, BBC Everyone is shaking the earth and sky in praise of Imran Khan. Britain, which partitioned Palestine and established a Jewish government, is promoting Imran Khan. “Now Imran Khan is married to Jews, Pakistan’s media is being given crores of rupees to make Imran Khan a special person. Imran Khan is being promoted to the Prime Ministership of Pakistan”, Hakeem Saeed added. If we look at the events in the last three decades from the establishment of PTI and Imran Khan to the post of Prime Minister till now, the powerful Jewish lobby is standing behind Imran Khan. The influence of the Jewish lobby that is behind the massacre of Palestinians has been showing its ‘worries’ for ‘human rights abuses in Pakistan’.
On April 13, 2022, during his interview at the Capital Talk show with Hamid Mir, President Asif Ali Zardari said that PTI social media is far ahead of any political party because it is designed by foreigners and the Goldsmiths family is behind Imran Khan. He was referring to the ex-wife of Khan Jemima Marcelle Goldsmith and her family who is part of the UK cabinet. Answering questions, Zardari said that social media had become a lethal weapon and PTI social media is far ahead of any political party because it is designed by foreigners and the Goldsmiths family is behind Imran Khan and even (the then) sitting Minister of the UK who is a relative of Imran Khan released an objectionable statement in favor of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Jemima Marcelle Goldsmith responded to such allegations and called them untrue.
A brief look at the media outlook of Imran’s coverage in Western media indicates that more than 130 toxic articles appeared in the last year in favor of PTI and against Pakistan in Western media, several international media TV documentaries appeared, and anti-Pakistan resolutions moved in American Congress and Great Britain Parliament and running paid anti-Pakistan campaigns on vehicles and ships were observed. President Zardari linked such activities in the past with the ‘House of Goldsmith’. Goldsmith’s followers are engrossed in the genocide of innocent Muslims in Gaza but with extreme hypocrisy and shamelessness, they are spreading fabricated propaganda about false human rights violations in Pakistan.
Official circles claim that since Goldsmith’s agents could not provide any relief to Imran Niazi and his party by sitting outside Pakistan, they have fully mobilized their proxies in Pakistan including a few Pakistani journalists and even the British Embassy in Islamabad looks very active for providing relief to Imran Khan. British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriot has been seen holding meetings with journalists, Human Rights activists, and academia to rally support for Imran Khan. One asks what a British ‘diplomat’ gains by these endeavors or the right question may be; what are the British afraid to lose?
This British High Commissioner is not a typical diplomat after having served mostly in conflict zones like Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, etc. At least a decade of her ‘service’ is unaccounted for and doesn’t boast any diplomatic deployment. Official circles believe that Marriot is behaving as a diplomat should have been and her comments during the Asma Jahangir Conference have already exposed what she has in her mind. She expressed concerns about the electoral process, noting that not all parties were allowed to contest, and legal processes were used to inhibit some political leaders and the use of recognizable party symbols. These comments provoked a strong response from the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Supreme Court’s registrar addressed Marriott’s criticism in a letter, emphasizing that the court had resolved the election date issue in just 12 days and that general elections were held throughout Pakistan on February 8, 2024.
When contacted, responsible officials who are dealing with cases of Imran Khan were of the view that getting Imran Khan and his associates out of the trap of the May 9 Mutiny is also the main objective of this foreign-funded and foreign propaganda project. They also claim that not only the UK Embassy in Pakistan is active rather some other diplomatic platforms such as the European Union are actively following Imran’s cases and are in contact with journalists and Human Rights organizations in Islamabad.
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: A delegation of 44 students from Harvard Business School (HBS) Trek-2024, representing nine different countries, met the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
The interactive session provided a platform to share perspectives on Pakistan’s pivotal role in promoting regional peace and stability, its unwavering efforts against terrorism, and its commitment to upholding democratic values.
General Asim Munir emphasized the significance of education, critical thinking, and innovation in addressing contemporary security challenges. He highlighted Pakistan’s vast potential and encouraged the attendees to form their own opinions based on personal experiences.
The COAS also cautioned against the perils of misinformation and fake news in the digital age, urging the students to navigate this landscape with discernment.
The Harvard students expressed their gratitude to the COAS for facilitating a constructive and enlightening interaction.
This engagement follows the COAS’s earlier interaction with students from various universities at the General Headquarters on August 20, underscoring his commitment to nurturing and inspiring the nation’s youth.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze met Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Thursday.
The prime minister welcomed the German minister to Pakistan and appreciated Germany’s longstanding support for Pakistan’s socioeconomic development. He said that Pakistan and Germany had a history of mutually beneficial commercial and economic ties and lauded Germany’s role in Pakistan’s industrial development.
In this context, the prime minister expressed Pakistan’s strong desire to revive the Pakistan-Germany partnership back to its glorious past.
The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to sustainable development, climate change mitigation and economic growth while sharing his government’s priorities including structural reforms for the economic revival of the Country.
The German minister conveyed greetings of Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the prime minister and reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Pakistan, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and development cooperation.
Svenja Schulze also shared that Germany was keen to increase its support for Pakistan’s renewable energy sector and climate resilience initiatives.
The two sides discussed ways to further enhance bilateral economic cooperation including increased trade, investment, IT and technology transfer as well as export of skilled labor.
They also exchanged views on regional and global issues including the situation in Gaza and the Ukraine conflict.
The German Minister Svenja Schulze also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister on behalf of Chancellor Olaf Scholz to attend the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in October.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides including the Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister, Minister for Planning, Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister for Commerce and Minister of State for IT.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The former Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again reiterated the demand of an open trial of the former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)...
Total reserves: $14.67 billion, up $22.2 million
SBP reserves: $9.30 billion, up $19.2 million
Commercial Banks reserves: $5.37 billion, up by $3 millionKARACHI,...