Everything Pakistan (2025)

23/12/2024

A fact sheet released by an international non-governmental organization (NGO) has revealed that 73 out of every 1,000 newborns in Punjab die before their first birthday, primarily due to food shortages, poor maternal health, and high population growth rates.

Experts from the Population Council emphasized that the lack of widespread adoption of family planning in Punjab is a major contributor to the high newborn mortality rate. According to the NGO’s latest figures, Punjab has the highest rate of infant deaths in Pakistan, compared to the national average of 62 per 1,000 live births.

The fact sheet highlighted that increasing the adoption of family planning methods could save thousands of lives annually. Currently, the national family planning rate is 34%, and raising it to 52% could prevent 140,000 infant deaths each year. In Punjab, where the rate stands at 41%, increasing it to 59% could save 73,000 newborn lives annually.

23/12/2024

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has inaugurated Phase II of the Honhar Scholarship Programme, which will cover the educational expenses of 30,000 students annually for the next four years.

Speaking at a FAST National University of Computer and Engineering Sciences, Islamabad ceremony, the chief minister stated, “This program allows talented students to pursue higher education at premier institutions without financial worries. The Punjab government will fully fund the educational expenses of deserving students under this initiative.”

23/12/2024

Pakistan’s chances of defaulting on its debt have fallen far below the point where panic is bliss, with the cost of ‘insuring’ the country’s sovereign debt now down by 88 percent compared to the alarming level seen in November over two years ago.

The country was 93 percent likely to declare bankruptcy in November 2022.

A Karachi-based investment analyst told ProPakistani, “For Pakistan, debt markets are indicating an improved reconciliation between emerging market (EM) corporate borrowers and their sovereign counterparts, as concerns subside about the country’s ability to refinance at competitive rates. However, several creditors still have yet to fulfill their financing commitments due to the political mayhem running riot in the background”.

He explained that on the issuer (Pakistan) side, EM borrowers like Pakistan now have the option to take advantage of their central bank’s easing monetary policy and also from the decreasing currency volatility.

As of Friday, December 20, 2024, the PKR/$ interbank rate has remained stable at 277-278 for the majority of the current calendar year.

23/12/2024

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Immigration Wing arrested three women accused of begging in Saudi Arabia under the pretense of being Umrah pilgrims, as reported by ARY News.

The women, hailing from Multan, Muzaffargarh, and Rahim Yar Khan, were apprehended at Sialkot International Airport upon their return to Pakistan. According to an FIA spokesperson, the women had been engaged in begging activities in Saudi Arabia for several months.

This incident follows a similar operation in October, where FIA officials arrested eight individuals attempting to travel abroad for begging. The arrests took place during two separate operations at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.

23/12/2024

A Pakistani man deported for begging in Saudi Arabia was apprehended by immigration authorities at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport while attempting to return to the kingdom.

The individual, identified as Alehandro Panhwar, was offloaded from a Saudi Arabia-bound flight and subsequently arrested. According to a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) spokesperson, Panhwar’s name was already listed in the blacklist category.

Reports revealed that Panhwar had initially traveled to Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa in 2019. During his stay, he was arrested for engaging in begging and deported back to Pakistan in June 2023. Following his deportation, his name was added to the blacklist to prevent further travel abroad.

23/12/2024

The government of Pakistan has adopted a strict approach toward its citizens involved in criminal activities abroad, particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as reported by ARY News citing the Ministry of Interior.

As per official sources, the passports of 4,700 Pakistani nationals currently imprisoned in the UAE have been deactivated.

This action follows detailed reports from UAE authorities concerning 5,292 Pakistani citizens serving sentences for various crimes.

Among these, 2,470 individuals were convicted of drug-related offenses, while 100 were linked to cases involving fraud, deception, and sexual harassment.

Additionally, the passports of 704 Pakistanis jailed for theft and 216 for murder and robbery have also been invalidated. Moreover, 375 Pakistani nationals residing unlawfully in the UAE have had their passports revoked.

20/12/2024

The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has launched a school nutrition program to promote the health and proper growth of children.

The initiative, inaugurated by PFA Director General Asim Javed at DPS Model Town, focuses on educating students, teachers, and parents about the significance of nutritious diets and avoiding unhealthy eating habits.

20/12/2024

The Punjab cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, approved multiple initiatives during its meeting on Thursday, including the dispatch of medicines, goods, and a mobile healthcare unit to Parachinar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

20/12/2024

The University of Peshawar has announced that winter vacation will take place from December 23 to January 4.

According to an official notification, all academic departments, institutes, and affiliated colleges will remain closed during this period. However, the university clarified that there will be no changes to the schedule of exams, tests, and interviews, which will proceed as planned.

20/12/2024

The government had approved the introduction of a contributory pension system for new entrants into the civilian workforce starting July 1, 2025, following an endorsement from the Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ). To manage the contributions under this new system, a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) will be established, with operations set to begin on the same date.

20/12/2024

Islamabad recorded a minimum temperature of 0°C today, marking a sharp dip as the cold wave tightened its grip across the country.

Other regions have also experienced significant drops in temperatures, according to the Meteorological Department.

Following are the minimum temperatures recorded across different areas:

Skardu and Leh: Recorded the coldest temperatures at -12°C.
Gilgit: Registered a low of -8°C.
Quetta and Astore: Both experienced -6°C.
Other Cities:
Peshawar faced sub-zero temperatures at -1°C.
Lahore and Faisalabad remained slightly warmer with 4°C, while Multan recorded 5°C.
Karachi saw a relatively mild minimum temperature of 12°C.
In Murree, the mercury dropped to -2°C.
In Azad Kashmir and northern areas:

Rawalakot and Hunza saw temperatures of -4°C.
Chitral, Dir, Kalam, and Bagrot all reported lows of -5°C.

20/12/2024

Meezan Bank emphasized that it is PCI-certified and all its cards are EMV and 3D Secure compliant. The bank stated that recent disputed transactions were related to unsecured e-commerce activities and are being reimbursed under the chargeback mechanism of international payment schemes. Affected customers are being compensated promptly.

To ensure safe online transactions, Meezan Bank advised customers to follow these precautions:

Avoid using cards on untrusted websites.
Refrain from conducting banking transactions over public Wi-Fi.
Be cautious of phishing attempts via emails, messages, or calls asking for card details or OTPs, even if they appear legitimate.
Immediately report lost or stolen cards to the bank.

20/12/2024

The government has presented detailed statistics regarding registered religious seminaries and their students in the Senate. According to the report, there are 17,738 registered seminaries across Pakistan, with 2,249,520 students enrolled.

In Punjab, 10,012 seminaries have been registered, accommodating 664,065 students. Sindh has 2,416 seminaries with a student population of 188,182. In Balochistan, the total number of registered seminaries is 575, with 71,815 students.

19/12/2024

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid an extensive visit to Saudi Arabia’s Directorate of Passports, where he was warmly welcomed by Acting Director General Major General Dr. Saleh Al-Murabaa.

During the visit, Minister Naqvi toured various departments, including the advanced call center, and reviewed the cutting-edge technologies utilized in Saudi Arabia’s passport system.

He praised the system’s efficiency and lauded its integration of state-of-the-art technology for passport processing and fraud prevention.

19/12/2024

Foreign investors in Pakistan have significantly increased their repatriation of profits and dividends, with a 112% surge in the first five months of fiscal year 2025.

Data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revealed that these investors moved $1.129 billion out of the country between July and November of FY25, a substantial jump of $597 million compared to the $523 million recorded during the same period in the previous fiscal year (FY24). This dramatic rise is attributed to improved economic conditions and a boost in investor confidence.

A closer look at the data reveals that the bulk of repatriated funds came from returns on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). During the first five months of fiscal year 2025 (July-November), foreign investors moved $1.074 billion out of Pakistan as FDI returns, a substantial 118% increase, or $582 million, compared to the $492 million recorded in the same period of fiscal year 2024.

19/12/2024

Spread on Pakistan’s CDS (Credit Default Swap) – insurance against credit default risk, has fallen to a low of 505 bps (5.05%) – even lower than some of the emerging and frontier markets, making a remarkable recovery of over 11,883 bps (11.89%).

Pakistan’s 5-year CDS spread has dropped from 12,388 bps in Nov 2022, indicating a significant reduction in default risk. Improved debt management, boosted foreign reserves, and fiscal discipline have restored market confidence in Pakistan’s ability to meet its sovereign obligations.

As investor confidence soars, Pakistan’s global bonds have been rallying, making creditors increasingly optimistic about Pakistan’s financial health.

19/12/2024

The government is preparing to further tighten restrictions on non-filers. Non-filers will be prohibited from purchasing vehicles over 800cc, opening bank accounts, and buying or transferring property. Properties and businesses may also be sealed if tax registration is not completed.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has presented the Revenue Amendment Bill 2024 in the National Assembly. According to the bill:

Non-filers will be prohibited from purchasing vehicles over 800cc.
Non-filers will not be allowed to purchase property beyond a certain limit.
Non-filers will also be restricted from purchasing shares beyond a specific threshold.
Non-filers will not be able to open bank accounts.
Non-filers will be restricted from conducting banking transactions beyond a certain limit.
However, non-filers will still be allowed to purchase motorcycles, rickshaws, and tractors.

19/12/2024

The supplementary exams for Matric Science and General Groups, for both regular and private candidates, will commence on January 1, 2025, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

These exams, also known as “second annual exams,” will be conducted in two shifts:

Morning shift: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Afternoon shift: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Admit cards will be issued to students starting December 23, 2024.
The schedule for key subjects is as follows:

January 1: Islamiat or Ethics (Morning Shift)
January 3: Urdu Normal and Sindhi Normal (Morning Shift)
January 4: Mathematics Paper II for Science Group (Morning Shift)
According to the report, the supplementary exams are set to conclude on January 17, 2025.

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