ISLAMABAD: Senator Irfan Siddiqui, spokesperson for the government’s negotiation committee, has announced that the dialogue process with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has officially concluded after the former ruling party rejected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to resume talks. Speaking to the Saudi Arabian media outlet Urdu News, Senator Siddiqui emphasized that there was no deadlock or breakdown, and the government’s negotiation committee had been dissolved. His remarks come as PTI skipped the fourth round of talks on January 28, citing the government’s failure to establish a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 riots and the November 2024 Islamabad protest, as…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
PESHAWAR: A new controversy has surfaced regarding the illegal recruitment of 230 employees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Human Rights Department. The Communication and Works Department Secretary, Asad Ali, has accused a former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) minister and the previous department secretary of orchestrating these unlawful appointments. A BPS-20 officer and former Director General of the Human Rights Department, Ali, has formally appealed against a show-cause notice issued by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. “It was on the orders and instructions of the then PTI minister for law and the law secretary that my directives dated 23/02/21 were overruled,” he stated. Former…
The much-anticipated Kia Sportage 5th generation has officially launched in Pakistan at a grand event in Karachi. The new model comes with a bold design, upgraded features, and, for the first time, a hybrid variant, catering to the growing demand for fuel-efficient SUVs. Engine and Performance The latest Sportage offers two engine options: The standard variant is powered by a Smart Stream 2.0L MPI petrol engine, delivering 154 HP and 192 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the hybrid variant features a 1.6L T-GDI HEV engine, generating an impressive 226 HP and 350 Nm of torque. Both variants come with front-wheel drive…
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has completed its hearing on the Central Power Purchasing Agency’s (CPPA) request for monthly fuel adjustment, indicating a potential reduction of Rs1.03 per unit in electricity prices for one month. The proceedings, chaired by Nepra Chairman Waseem Mukhtar, revealed that a final decision would be issued after evaluating the presented data. CPPA officials briefed the authority, stating that “Power plants operated as per the merit order in December.” According to the CPPA, fuel costs remained low during December, contributing to the proposed reduction. They further noted, “Had the Neelum Jhelum Power Project been…
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a significant bullish trend as the benchmark KSE-100 Index surged past the 114,000-point mark. At one point, the index gained over 1,590 points, reaching 114,796 points, while another update showed a 1,426-point increase, bringing it to 114,632 points. A third trading session recorded a 1,030-point rise, taking the index to 114,230 points. Stockbrokers attributed this surge to strong financial results from listed companies, boosting investor confidence. Sectors such as banking, oil, cement, and pharmaceuticals saw increased buying activity, further driving the upward momentum. Analysts remain optimistic about the market’s performance, citing positive economic indicators…
The price of gold in Pakistan has hit a new record high, with the per-tola gold price reaching Rs291,800. The increase in gold rates on Friday reflected global market trends. In the local market, the price of 24-karat gold per tola rose by Rs1,500, reaching the highest ever Rs291,800, according to data shared by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA). Similarly, the price of 10 grams of 24-karat gold increased by Rs1,286, bringing it to Rs250,171. In the international market, the price of gold also saw a rise of $14 on Friday, reaching $2,792 per ounce with an…
The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been increased by Rs3.68 per kilogram for February, bringing the new rate to Rs253.97 per kg. Following the price hike, the cost of an 11.8kg domestic LPG cylinder has risen by Rs43.52, reaching Rs2,996.88, according to a notification issued by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). The new prices will be effective across the country from February 1. The surge in LPG rates is expected to add to the financial burden on households that rely on LPG for cooking and heating.
WhatsApp’s “View Once” feature was designed to offer a layer of privacy by ensuring that shared media disappears after being viewed once. However, a recently discovered bug made the feature unreliable, allowing iPhone users to access “View Once” photos and videos multiple times instead of just once. First revealed by cybersecurity researcher Ramshath in a blog post, the bug was surprisingly easy to exploit. iPhone users could simply navigate to Settings > Storage and Data > Manage Storage, locate the sender’s chat, and sort the media by “Newest,” allowing them to reopen “View Once” content that should have disappeared. This…
A new groundbreaking nerve stimulation treatment could have the potential to improve the lives of patients recovering from strokes. Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (TVNS), currently being tested in Leeds, is a treatment where a device similar to a pacemaker is attached to an earpiece. According to BBC, this device stimulates nerves in a way that helps patients regain the ability to move their arm. Specialist occupational therapist Vicky Carruthers has observed that the trial has helped patients regain their “independence and dignity.” Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust is one of 19 locations involved in a national trial funded with £2…
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a norm in daily life, it has also opened the door for the creation and spread of misinformation, especially among the vulnerable demographic spending most of their time online. A study published by Common Sense Media on Wednesday asked 1,000 teenagers aged 13 to 18 about their experience with AI-generated media content, as reported by CNN. About 41% of teens reported encountering real yet misleading content, and 22% revealed that they had shared information that later turned out to be fake. This conclusion came after it was found that seven out of ten teenagers had…
