Author: Sajjad Ali

LAHORE: Volkan Onguç has taken charge as the new Vice President for Pakistan and Afghanistan Region of Eurasia & Middle East Operation Unit of The Coca-Cola Company. Volkan’s professional experience in commercial management, business development, and sales spans over two decades. His expertise in revenue growth management, both in Turkey and internationally, have been a key asset for the Company since he joined in April 2021. Speaking about his vision for Coca-Cola Pakistan, Volkan Onguç said, “I believe Pakistan is a country of immense potential with over $1 billion invested in the country by the Coca-Cola System. This is truly…

ISLAMABAD: As the monsoon season approaches, experts forecast higher-than-usual rainfall across the country, posing significant flood risks from July to September. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued warnings and outlined precautionary measures to mitigate potential disasters. This year’s monsoon rains are expected to exceed normal levels, raising concerns about widespread flooding. Rivers and canals are at high risk of overflowing, potentially causing severe flooding in adjacent areas. Flash flooding is particularly likely in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Major rivers, including the Kabul, Indus, and Swat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Sutlej and Ravi in Punjab, as well as…

PESHAWAR: The ongoing repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has seen significant numbers, reaching a total of 607,166 as of June 11, 2024. The effort to return illegal Afghan immigrants to their home country continues unabated. Between May 29 and June 11, a total of 16,721 Afghan nationals were repatriated. This group included 7,621 men, 4,587 women, and 4,513 children, reflecting the diverse makeup of those returning. The logistics of the operation involved transporting 510 families in 687 vehicles back to Afghanistan, highlighting the organized nature of the repatriation process.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led federal government will present its first growth-oriented budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, with an estimated outlay exceeding Rs18 trillion, on June 12 (today). Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, will present the budget on the floor of the National Assembly. According to government sources, “The budget will aim to alleviate public hardships, transform the agriculture sector, promote information technology (IT), and boost exports.” The government also stated that the budget will focus on fiscal management, revenue mobilization, economic stabilization and growth measures, reduction in non-development expenditures, job creation, and…

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet approved the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2024 in principle on Tuesday, aiming to establish the National Digital Commission and Pakistan Digital Authority, promoting the digitization of the national economy and paperless governance. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, directed the Law Ministry to review the Act, which seeks to modernize the services sector to meet international standards. The National Digital Commission, serving as a policymaking body, will be led by the prime minister and include federal and provincial representatives. Additionally, the Pakistan Digital Authority will be created to realize the goals of Digital Pakistan,…

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday ordered closure of Monal and all other restaurants situated in the Margalla Hills National Park in Islamabad. The top court ordered that all restaurants within the National Park must be completely shut down within three months. The Chief Justice of Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa dismissed the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) report and directed the closure of all restaurants within three months. The court remarked that the National Park should not be exploited for commercial ventures and urged the authorities to relocate affected restaurants to areas outside the park through land leasing arrangements.…

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government is planning to raise regulatory duties on imported used cars in the upcoming budget for 2024-25, aiming to bolster the local automobile industry. Under the proposed plan, there would be a 30 percent increase in regulatory duty for cars with engine capacities exceeding 1800cc, potentially resulting in a duty of up to 100 percent. Additionally, a 15 percent duty is suggested for used vehicles with engine capacities up to 1800cc. However, both new and old hybrid vehicles up to 1800cc would remain duty-free. This move comes in response to a significant surge of 255 percent in…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s coalition government will present its first annual budget for the fiscal year of 2024-25 in the  National Assembly on June 12 (Wednesday). Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, will be at the helm of this presentation, with the budget formulated in light of both domestic and international economic challenges, as per government sources. The overarching goal of the budget is to alleviate hardships faced by the populace while also revitalizing key sectors such as agriculture and information technology, and bolstering exports. Emphasizing fiscal management, revenue generation, economic stability, and growth, the government aims to…

The situation for women in Afghanistan has sharply declined since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, according to a recent United Nations report. This report highlights the severe and systematic violations of women’s rights under the Taliban regime. Since the Taliban  returned to power in 2021, Afghanistan has seen a sharp decline in women’s rights, as highlighted in a recent United Nations report. Progress made on women’s human rights between 2001 and 2021 has been swiftly reversed, pushing women’s roles back centuries. Under Taliban rule, women and girls face severe restrictions on movement, education, and employment opportunities. They are…

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has successfully concluded its pre-Hajj operation with the final flight departing from Karachi to Jeddah on Monday night, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the national carrier. Commencing on May 9, Pakistan’s Hajj flight operations facilitated pilgrims participating in the pilgrimage under the government’s scheme. In total, 35,030 pilgrims embarked on their journey through 171 flights, according to a statement from PIA. These flights served approximately 19,500 official pilgrims, 14,900 private pilgrims, and 630 pilgrims traveling to Madinah and Jeddah. Departures for Hajj originated from Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Sialkot, and Peshawar, while pilgrims from…