ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday launched Buna-Raast Connectivity Project in Islamabad to streamline remittances from the Arab world to Pakistan.
The project links Pakistan’s digital payment system Raast with Buna which is established under the Arab Monetary Fund.
While addressing the launching ceremony, the prime minister said that this ground breaking initiative will further strengthen our historic relations with the Arab World in a modern digital way. He said that the initiative aims to facilitate our fellow Pakistanis in the Arab world to quickly send their money back home.
براہِ راست: وزیرِاعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی بونا-راست کنیکٹیوٹی منصوبے کے نفاد کی افتتاحی تقریب میں گفتگو https://t.co/Ipq3W7pdtB
Shahbaz Sharif pointed out that it is Pakistan’s first cross border real time payment system that will make remittances more affordable and accessible.
Referring to the economic challenges, the prime minister said that he will soon announce a five-year home grown economic program. He said that discussions have been held with stakeholders on it over the last many months. He said that the program will envisage measures to uplift the economy and different sectors including agriculture and IT.
In his remarks on the occasion, the Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb expressed satisfaction that macro-economic stability is taking roots in Pakistan. He said the investor confidence is also coming back to the Country.
The finance minister was confident that the Extended Fund Facility of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will help bring permanence to macro-economic stability. He said that the government is committed to structural reforms including in the energy and taxation system.
Muhammad Aurangzeb said that remittances are a lifeline for Pakistan and the country received remittances of US$ 3 billion in July 2024. He said that Buna-Raast project will further enhance remittances.
Islamabad, Pakistan: The saga of Monal Restaurant in Margalla Hills National Park is a textbook example of how the Superclass manipulates rules to benefit elites and grab economic and power resources in Pakistan.
Strongly interlaced, intermixed, and intermingled, the Superclass oMargalla Hills National Parkvertly employs rules, and laws and even covertly rewrites rules in its favor without any fear of contest from the administrative system that serves the powerful.
Margallah Hills National Park comprises the Margallah Range (12605 ha) the Rawal Lake, and the Shakarparian Sports and Cultural Complex. The rock formations are 40 million years old, and fossils of marine life abound everywhere bearing eloquent testimony that the Margallah hills were at one time under the sea.
Margallah Hills National Park (MHNP) was established in 1980 through notification No. S.R.O. 443 (1)/80, dated 28th April 1980 under section 21 of Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation & Management) Ordinance, 1979. Margalla Reserve Forest comprises villages that include Mangial, Malach Dakhali, Phulgran, Mandia, Jhang, Malpur, (Bijran), Rumli, Narias, Padoh Dakhali, Noorpur Shahan, Ratta Hottar, Saidpur, DhokJiwan, Gandhian, Kilinjar, and Saniari; the area bounded by Shahrah-i-Kashmir in the north, Shahrah-i-Islamabad in the west and Murree Road in the South and East up to the junction with Shahrah-I-Kashmir and Rawal Lake and areas within the distance of 2km from the highest water mark of the lake. Today, the land comprising Shakparian, Lok Virsa, Sports Complex Islamabad Club, Polo Ground, Islamabad Riding Club, Islamabad Golf Course, Gun Club, Parade Ground, heliport, and China Expo Centre also fall in the MHNP. Motels and marquees along the Murree Road from Faizabad up to the Islamabad Club are located in the MHNP in violation of rules that govern National Parks globally.
Before the establishment of MHNP, the land had been under usage by different departments and entities including the Punjab Forest Department and a military grass farm. The Superclass used this past of MHNP as a ‘loophole’ to ruin Margalla National Park.
According to a brief history of this land, the Punjab Government leased out 11,970 acres out of 12,511 acres of the forestland to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for 20 years in 1961. The lease expired in 1981 and CDA got an extension of the lease for 10 years. However, after 1991 neither did the CDA ask for another extension nor did the Punjab government take any step to reclaim the ownership of the forestland because it suited both to create ambiguity about the ownership for favoring land encroachers and builders of the hotel industry. In 2012, the Punjab government took up the issue with CDA with a lull of 21 years when CDA started a project of construction of Margalla Avenue passing through the forests near Labana village. The Punjab Government called for the construction of Avenue violation of the lease agreement signed by the West Pakistan [now Punjab] Agriculture secretary and CDA’s Horticulture Directorate in 1966. The situation is similar to the military grass venture. The record shows that only the grass-cutting rights were given to the Military Veterinary and Farms Corps (MV&FC) to provide fodder to the military animals and MVFC regularly paid an annual fee to the Forest Department in the past.
When CDA directed Monal Restaurant to stop encroaching land around the Restaurant, the owner of the Restaurant who is a brother of the Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal claimed that CDA was not the owner of the land as the land belonged to the military and he signed a lease deal with military farms authorities though he got the first lease from CDA.
It is pertinent to mention that the notification of 1980, which established the MHNP directed that the CDA maintain the Margalla forest and CDA can’t violate the Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation & Management) Ordinance, 1979 under which MHNP was set up.
Interestingly, Margalla Society (run under a powerful bureaucrat Roedad Khan for decades before his death), Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), WWF, IUCN, and other environmental protection authorities and organizations miserably failed to save the third-largest national park in Pakistan when commercial activities like restaurants, amusement parks and even housing societies started operations in Margalla Hills. IWMB is operating under the Ministry of Climate Change having a mandate to protect, manage, and conserve the Margalla Hills National Park. It was set up in 2015 under Section 4 of the Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Ordinance 1979.
Nature was at last helped by the Islamabad High Court which came forward to save this National Park from the manipulation of civil administration. In January 2022, the Islamabad High Court declared that the claim of the Remount, Veterinary, and Farms (RV&F) Directorate of Pakistan Army, over 8,068 acres of land in the notified Margalla National Park area violates the Ordinance of 1979 read with the Ordinance of 1960 and the Master Plan.
The court order indicated that the RV&F Directorate bypassed the Government of Pakistan and directly took up the matter with the CDA. It stated that through notification No. 266 dated 23 April 1910 land was being ‘utilized by Military Farm Rawalpindi for production of hay for Army animals and permitting the use of land does not confer its ownership, nor could ownership have been conferred on the Directorate, a non-legal entity.
The case consequently went to the Supreme Court of Pakistan which released its detailed judgment on August 21, 2024. The judgment shows how the Superclass manipulates rules, and laws and even rewrites rules to protect members of this Superclass. The judgment notes that the directorate asserted rights to the land of the National Park on the tenuously improbable premise that in the year 1910, the Veterinary, Remount, and Farms unit of the British Army was allowed to use some land of the National Park for fodder cutting but did not have ownership of the land. Strangely, the Directorate gave a lease to a brother of one of the top bureaucrats of Pakistan for a seventeen-year lease of a land that was not under its ownership. The judgment also indicates that the Federal Government was correct in rejecting the fanciful notion of the Directorate that 110-year-old permission to collect fodder did not nor could bestow ownership rights to such land. The judgement added that the application was filed by the federal government wherein it stated in writing that the RV&FD Lease was void ab initio’, and that no record is available to show ‘that the Federal Government has given any approval to execute the Lease Agreement with owner of Monal Restaurant.
Chief Justice Pakistan noted that a lessee cannot unilaterally discard his lessor, substitute it with another, and then become the lessee of the latter, but this is what Mr Afzal did. He unilaterally cast aside CDA, his Lessor, and the CDA Lease and elected to become the purported lessee of the Directorate under the RV&FD Lease. Mr. Afzal had obtained the possession of the property from CDA pursuant to the CDA Lease and had agreed to pay rent to CDA, but then he stopped paying rent to CDA and had the temerity to seek the refund of the rent already paid to the CDA.
For a better understanding of how the bureaucrats play havoc with state properties, the following parts of the SC judgment are reproduced hereunder:
“Nonetheless, Mr Afzal retained the possession of the property which he had got from CDA under the CDA Lease while he put up his untenable contention. Rarely such audaciousness, and complete disregard of the law has been witnessed. Afzal cultivated and developed relationships with the powerful, and his brother was in the bureaucracy who then rose to the highest position in it. Therefore, he may have deluded himself by assuming that he was above the law. He violated the law for years and went on expanding his restaurant by encroaching into and destroying the National Park. The protected status of the National Park was of no consequence to him and to the government servants who supported him.”
Money, connections, influence, and/or nepotism supplanted the law and the protected status of the National Park, first by getting the CDA to execute the CDA Lease and then the Directorate to execute the FV&FD Lease. Every opportunity was given to Mr Afzal to comply with the law, which he had been continuously flouting for eighteen years. Probably it finally dawned that this Court would ensure the law is abided by and that it would also ensure that the National Park is protected which made him and the other restaurant owners pause and reflect.
During the hearing of these cases and earlier too frequent fires had erupted in the National Park. The Court was informed that the cause of these fires could also be that Monal, La Montana, and Gloria Jeans were popular venues and daily attracted thousands of customers and any of whom could carelessly throw a lit match or a cigarette, without first extinguishing it, which would ignite the dry grass and twigs lying on the forest floor of the National Park. These blazes are difficult to put out and require considerable manpower and resources, including repeated sorties by helicopters carrying water to throw on the fires.
The owner of La Montana and Gloria Jeans, namely, Dr. Muhammad Amjad, was also issued a notice by this Court, but he elected not to disclose how he managed to get possession of the mountain ridge next to Mr. Afzal’s restaurant and who, if anyone, granted him permission to construct and run his establishments. However, it is unimaginable that without having connections with those at the power center of the country he would have been able to raise illegal buildings and to do so by disregarding the laws of Pakistan.
He too had connections with General Pervez Musharraf, who after his retirement had made Dr. Muhammad Amjad his political party’s Chairman. When personal contacts with the paid servants of the State, trump the laws of Pakistan, and bureaucrats come to serve the interest of lawbreakers it is an abomination.
The priciest land in Islamabad is the land facing the Margalla Hills; prices start reducing the further one moves away from this natural wonder. Resultantly, every profiteer has set his eyes on this unbuilt real estate which probably is the most expensive land in Pakistan. The National Park land has over the years been encroached upon, which could only have happened with the involvement of the officers of CDA and other senior bureaucrats.
The National Park land is under grave and imminent danger. The rich, powerful and well-connected want to wrest it away for their personal use and/or gain. This must stop. The people cannot be deprived of the National Park, its flora and fauna, and of the benefits of this amazing national asset. Government servants who collude with land grabbers also need reminding that it is the people who pay their salaries and it is them who they serve, and whose interest they must protect. Those who forget this fundamental truth are a drain on the public exchequer.
Private interests and those marauding public lands must not be allowed to deprive the people of Pakistan and future generations of it. If we lose the National Park the adverse effects of greenhouse gases, deforestation, soil erosion, pollution, and climate change will be exacerbated to the detriment of the people and future generations.
The fundamental right to life, and to live it with dignity (respectively Articles 9 and 14 of the Constitution) is to live in a world that has an abundance of all species. It has by now been scientifically well established that if the earth becomes bereft of birds, animals, insects, trees, plants, clean rivers, unpolluted air, and soil it will be the precursor of our destruction, and scientific research establishes that nothing in nature is without value and purpose”.
This is one case that appeared on the surface but there can be hundreds of such cases where bureaucrats played havoc with state property that actually belongs to the citizens of the country who have no ownership over state land because they are not backed by the powerful Superclass.
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 Thursday (August 22, 2024), the gold rate for one tola of 24-karat in Karachi, Pakistan, is Rs 261,450.000.
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 22, 2024 (In PKR)
Gold Rate
24K Gold
22K Gold
21K Gold
18K Gold
Per Tola Gold
261,450.000
239,662.500
228,768.750
196,087.500
Per 10 Gram Gold
224,160.000
205,480.000
196,140.000
168,120.000
Per 1 Gram of Gold
22,416.000
20,548.000
19,614.000
16,812.000
Per Ounce
635,323.500
582,379.875
555,908.063
476,492.625
Today’s gold rate per Tola in Pakistan is Rs 261,450.000 on Thursday (August 22, 2024).
Whereas one gram of 24k Gold is being sold at Rs 22,416.000 and 10 grams of 24K Gold are being traded for Rs 224,160.000.
A single ounce of 24k gold is trading at Rs 635,323.500.
The newly appointed Pakistani Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has formally assumed his diplomatic responsibilities as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States.
The Ambassador had a busy day at the Embassy wherein he had a detailed meeting with the officers of the Embassy.
Later, the heads of various departments gave a detailed briefing to the Ambassador.
The ambassador also held a zoom meeting with the Consul Generals of Pakistan in the United States.
Talking to the officers, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh emphasized the importance of Pak-US relationship.
The envoy stated that cementing multifaceted Pak-US relations, strengthening economic ties and enhancing people to people linkages would remain his foremost priorities.
Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh also highlighted the importance of the Pakistani diaspora in the US, describing them as a valuable asset of the country.
The ambassador noted that the community was serving as a strong bond in Pak-US relationship. He said that every possible effort should be made to ensure better service delivery to the community.
The ambassador stressed upon the need to pursue result-oriented diplomacy.
Earlier upon his arrival in Washington on August 21, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh was received at the airport by officials of the US State Department and the officers of the Embassy.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan has called upon the international community to stand in solidarity with victims of state terrorism in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In a statement on the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism observed on Wednesday, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that on this day, we pay special tribute to the oppressed people of IIOJK who have been victims of decades long state-terrorism unleashed by the Indian occupation forces.
The Spokesperson said that India’s unabated reign of terror in IIOJK over the last three decades has resulted in death of thousands of Kashmiris.
Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the people of Pakistan will always stand with the victims of state terrorism in IIOJK and continue to provide political, diplomatic, and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their quest for the right to self-determination.
Baloch further said that on the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, we honour the memories of those who have lost lives as a result of terrorist acts.
The Spokesperson said that Pakistan stands in solidarity with the victims of terrorism and their families, and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
“We honour the memories of our martyrs and survivors which include thousands of women and children,” she said. “We pay homage to our brave security and law enforcement personnel, who sacrificed their precious lives in fighting terrorism. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten.”
Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch also said that as we remember victims of terrorism today, we also reiterate our commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals; and to promoting dialogue, cooperation and a culture of peace, tolerance, and understanding.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has decided to change all the currency notes from Rs 10 to Rs 5,000 by the end of 2024.
While giving a briefing in the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, the Governor State Bank Jameel Ahmad said that by December 2024, newly-designed currency notes will be launched.
Jameel Ahmad said that instead of paper currency, polymer banknote (plastic note) will also be issued.
The Committee was that in a bid to issue new currency notes, an approval will be taken soon from the Federal Cabinet.
The Committee member Mohsin Aziz suggested banning of Rs 5,000 note to prevent smuggling; however, the Governor State Bank said that Rs 5,000 currency notes will not be banned as well as there is no such proposal under consideration.
The Governor State Bank Jameel Ahmad further told that polymer banknote will be used permanently if its lifespan is found to be longer than the paper currency.
Jameel Ahmed also said that all new features will be introduced in the new currency notes, adding that polymer plastic will be used for plastic currency.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that he has asked the banks to provide at least 40 percent of loans to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to promote small businesses.
While addressing the Concluding Session of the two-day National Youth Convention in Islamabad on Wednesday, the prime minister urged the youth to engage with SMEs for their economic empowerment and skill development.
The prime minister said the key to Pakistan’s progress is in the hands of youth and this is the reason the government is fully focused to empower them. He said the government is utilizing all available resources to facilitate the youth so that they can harness their potential for the progress and prosperity of the Country.
The prime minister said that we have to move forward with unity and the Constitution of Pakistan is one such instrument that is binding us all together as one cohesive national force.
Shahbaz Sharif urged all political forces to work together in unison with all constitutional institutions of the Country within the contours of the Constitution for the progress of the Country.
Highlighting Pakistan’s indomitable struggle to rid of the menace of terrorism, he said that over 70,000 Pakistanis have sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism. He commended the security forces and law enforcement agencies for standing resolute in this war.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) has anticipated more rain wind/thunderstorms and heavy downpours in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and isolated rainfall in Punjab from August 21 to 24, 2024.
Rains may cause increased flows in local nullahs and river tributaries and low to Medium flows are expected in Kabul River & its tributaries.
Increased flows may cause flash floods in Abbottabad, Parachinar, Charbagh, Charsadda, Chitral, Dir, Haripur, Hazara, Malakand, Mansehra, Mardan, Peshawar, and Swabi districts of KP while Potohar region, twin Cities, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Jhelum, Lahore, Layyah, Mianwali, Multan, Narowal, Rahimyar Khan, Sialkot and Sargodha districts of Punjab to experience rain and heavy fall is expected in the eastern Punjab.
The NDMA has urged all relevant authorities and the public to take necessary precautions to mitigate the potential impacts of flooding and landslides.
The authority has issued instructions to all relevant departments to alert Emergency Response Teams and mobilized resources to ensure a swift response to any arising situations.
The tourists have been advised to avoid traveling to these areas during the forecasted period. The public is advised to remain vigilant and follow instructions from local authorities.
The NDMA has advised the public to stay informed and download ‘Pak NDMA Disaster Alert’ mobile app for timely alerts and closely monitor weather reports.
The Interbank Closing Exchange Rate in Pakistan has been issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for August 21, 2024.
Interbank Dollar Rate Today in Pakistan – 21 August 2024
At the Closing of the Trading Session in the Interbank Market on August 21, 2024, the US Dollar (USD) settled at 278.52 against the Pakistani Rupee (PKR), appreciating by 0.06 percent.
#PKR depreciates by 0.18 rupees or 0.07% against #USD to settle at 278.52 in today’s interbank session.
MTD: 0.22 rupees or 0.08%
FYTD: -0.18 rupees or -0.07%
CYTD: 3.34 rupees or 1.2% pic.twitter.com/p9YxCNbtOR
The Euro (EUR) stood at Rs 309.59, the British Pound (GBP) at Rs 362.59, the Canadian Dollar (CAD) at Rs 204.53, the Australian Dollar (AUD) at Rs 187.62, the UAE Dirham (AED) at Rs 75.83, the Saudi Riyal (SAR) at Rs 74.22, the Chinese Yuan (CNY) at Rs 39.03, and the Turkish Lira (TRY) at Rs 8.21.
Exchange Rates against Pakistani Rupees Today
USD to PKR – USD/PKR (1 US Dollar equals 278.52 Pakistani Rupees)
EUR to PKR – EUR/PKR (1 Euro equals 309.59 Pakistani Rupees)
GBP to PKR – GBP/PKR (1 British Pound equals 362.59 Pakistani Rupees)
CAD to PKR – CAD/PKR (1 Canadian Dollar equals 204.53 Pakistani Rupees)
AUD to PKR – AUD/PKR (1 Australian Dollar equals 187.62 Pakistani Rupees)
AED to PKR – AED/PKR (1 UAE Dirham equals 75.83 Pakistani Rupees)
SAR to PKR – SAR/PKR (1 Saudi Riyal equals 74.22 Pakistani Rupees)
CNY to PKR – CNY/PKR (1 Chinese Yuan equals 39.03 Pakistani Rupees)
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.
The newly appointed Pakistani Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has formally assumed his diplomatic responsibilities as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United...
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan has called upon the international community to stand in solidarity with victims of state terrorism in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and...