ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government has increased the prices of petroleum products by as much as Rs35 per liter, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Sunday, as the South Asian country struggles to meet International Monetary Fund’s demands to resume its $7 billion loan program.
The cash-strapped South Asian nation has been desperately looking for external financing as its foreign exchange reserves have depleted to a staggering $3.7 billion — barely enough to provide three-week import cover.
The 9th review of Pakistan’s $7 billion IMF loan program has been pending since September last year, primarily because of the tough preconditions set by the global money lender. One of the prerequisites is to achieve a petroleum development levy (PDL) to the tune of Rs855 billion ($3.4 billion) by June 2023.
Dar said the government had to increase the prices of petroleum products, considering the recent devaluation of Pakistani currency and up to 11 percent in global fuel prices.
“A decision has been made that petrol and diesel prices will be increased by Rs35 each, and kerosene oil and light diesel oil will be increased by Rs18 each,” he said in his televised comments.
Pakistan revises petroleum prices every fortnight, but the hike two days in advance of the scheduled revision shows the government’s despair for the resumption of the IMF program to keep the frail economy on track.
Following Sunday’s revision of prices, petrol will now be available at Rs249.8 per liter, high-speed diesel at Rs262.8, kerosene oil at Rs189.83 and light diesel oil at Rs187 per liter, Dar announced.
“These prices will be applicable from 11am on Sunday, 29th January,” he added.
The hike follows more than 12 percent depreciation in the value of the local currency this week and is expected to further increase inflation in Pakistan, which was already hovering above 24 percent in December.
Pakistan jacks up prices of petroleum products by as much as Rs35
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Pakistan jacks up prices of petroleum products by as much as Rs35
- Finance chief says government had to raise prices after currency devaluation, global hikes
- The Pakistani currency this week lost more than 12 percent of its value against the greenback
Ramadan moon sighted, Pakistan to observe first fast on Thursday
- Moon-sighting testimonies received from Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Mardan and other cities, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee says
- Muslims in Pakistan and around the world fast from dawn till sunset during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's central moon-sighting committee announced on Wednesday that the Ramadan moon had been sighted and the nation would observe the first fast of the holy month from Thursday.
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC), Pakistan's official body responsible for sighting the new moon marking the beginning of each Islamic month, held a meeting to sight the Ramadan crescent in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar.
"Testimonies of sighting the moon of the holy month of Ramadan were received from many parts of Pakistan," RHC Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said during a news conference. "These [areas] included Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Swabi, Killa Saifullah and Mardan. And the moon has been sighted," he added.
"Hence, it was decided according to consensus that the first of Ramadan, 144 A.H. will fall on Thursday, March 23, 2023, God willing," Azad said.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, wherein Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise till sunset for a month.
This is followed by the sighting of the new moon and is marked by Eid Al-Fitr, a religious holiday and celebration that is observed by Muslims across the world.
Pakistan political crisis deepens as election body postpones Punjab elections to Oct. 8
- Not possible to hold and organize elections fairly and peacefully on April 30, says Pakistan's election regulator
- Fresh schedule will be issued in due course of time with poll date on October 8, says Election Commission of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's political crisis deepened on Wednesday as the election regulator announced polls in the country's most populous Punjab province would be postponed from April 30 to October 8.
The move is likely to irk former Prime Minister Imran Khan who, since his ouster from office last April, has been calling for early elections and holding mass demonstrations and sit-ins to pile pressure on the government. In recent days, Khan's party has said it would launch countrywide street protests if general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where provincial assemblies were dissolved in January, are not held within a constitutionally mandated 90-day limit.
After much political and legal debate, Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi announced April 30 as the date for Punjab provincial assembly elections earlier this month.
The president announced the date after Pakistan's top court ruled that elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces should be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the provincial legislatures.
The controversy was triggered when former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and allies dissolved the Punjab and KP provincial assemblies in January, in a bid to force the government of PM Shehbaz Sharif to announce nationwide polls.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said in a notification that it held meetings on March 20, 21, and 22 to "deliberate extensively" on the matter of Punjab elections after receiving briefings from law enforcement agencies, ministries of finance, defence, interior and the secretary of Punjab,
"The Commission after considering the reports, briefing and material brought before it, has arrived at the just conclusion that it is not possible to hold and organize the elections honestly, justly, fairly, in a peaceful manner and in accordance with the Constitution and law," it said.
"The Commission hereby withdraws the election program issued vide Notification No. F. 2(3)/2023/Cord dated 8th March, 2023 and fresh schedule will be issued in due course of time with poll date on 08th October, 2023," it added.
"The constitution and the Supreme Court have been practically abolished," Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, a close aide of Khan, wrote on Twitter. "Pakistan is now without a constitution."
Ousted via a parliamentary vote in April 2022, Khan has been pressurizing the government to hold early elections, a demand repeatedly rejected by PM Shehbaz Sharif. Khan has alleged that the ruling coalition government is "running away" from elections out of fear of his surging popularity.
Pakistan seeks parliament ruling to empower authorities to tackle ex-PM Khan's party
- Ruling was asked for in joint session of parliament convened over instability caused by crisis over Khan
- Interior minister requested house give "guidance" to government about violence stoked by Khan's supporters
LAHORE: Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday sought a parliament ruling to empower authorities to tackle former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party's alleged involvement in violence.
The ruling was asked for in a joint session of parliament convened over the instability caused by the crisis over Khan.
Sanaullah told the house nearly 68 security personnel were injured in clashes and 16 arrested Khan aides will be tried on terrorism charges.
The clashes erupted after Khan's supporters prevented police and paramilitary forces from arresting him in a case in which he is accused of unlawfully selling state gifts during his tenure as premier from 2018-2022. He denies any wrongdoing.
The minister requested the house give "guidance" to the government about the violence stoked by Khan's supporters, who he said included "miscreants, armed groups, and terrorists".
"It is required that the security forces should be given authority and other measures to deal with this issue," he said, adding that Khan's agenda is "chaos and anarchy."
The government has alleged that Khan's supporters had militants among them and ministers have called for proscribing Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Khan has rejected the allegation, saying that the government wanted his party out of politics.
The former premier has demanded snap elections since he was ousted in a parliamentary vote of confidence in April last year. Khan's successor Shehbaz Sharif has said that a general election will be held as scheduled later this year.
Pakistani TV anchor breaks internet for continuing bulletin amid powerful earthquake jolts
- Local TV anchor Shah Faisal says powerful earthquake "frightened" him
- 6.5-magnitude earthquake in parts of Pakistan killed at least 10 on Tuesday
PESHAWAR: A Pakistani TV anchor broke the internet this week after a video of him continuing to read a news bulletin amid a powerful earthquake late on Tuesday evening was shared widely on social media.
At least 10 people were killed and over 60 injured in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Tuesday night when a 6.5-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of the South Asian country.
In a video that has gone viral on social media since, young TV anchor Shah Faisal, 30, can be seen reading the news when tremors start to shake the studio. Instead of running to safety, the journalist, who works for Pashto-language Mashriq TV in KP's provincial capital Peshawar, breaks the news of the earthquake.
"The cameraman had already fled while I was here in the studio," Faisal, who hails from Mardan city, told Arab News in an interview at the studio. "I was speaking, but in my mind, I kept thinking, 'What will happen now?' Our studio is on the fifth floor and it was shaking a lot, there were a lot of jolts."
Before the quake struck, Faisal was reading a news story about Prime Minister Shehbaz during the 09:00 p.m. bulletin. Next, Faisal can be seen swaying from side to side. Numerous LED TVs in the background and his own laptop are also seen shaking as another man scurried out of the studio behind the anchorman who continued with the bulletin.
One of the two producers working with him fled for safety, Faisal said. The second one took over and told him to break the news of the earthquake.
Faisal said he initially thought the earthquake would be of a similar nature to a “milder” one that had taken place in KP around two months ago.
"This one was very severe and its duration was longer too," Faisal said, adding that the quake "frightened" him.
After the jolts, Faisal immediately called home to inquire after his family and learnt that his father was watching him on TV as the earthquake occurred.
Faisal has since been reading comments on social media about his viral video. Almost 90% of them are encouraging while the remaining are critical of his choice to continue with the bulletin rather than run for cover.
"But it is our belief that life and death is in the hands of Allah," Faisal said.
"And on the day that we are decreed to leave here [this world], we will leave on that day. I had faith and praise be to Allah, he gave me encouragement."
UAE-based Carrefour partners with Pakistani NGO to help the needy in Ramadan
- Carrefour, Pakistan’s Alkhidmat Foundation to provide meals to less privileged Pakistanis in Ramadan
- The two will also provide humanitarian aid to people affected by the devastating quake in Türkiye, Syria
ISLAMABAD: Retail company Carrefour Pakistan, owned and operated by UAE-based holding firm Majid Al Futtaim, announced on Wednesday its decision to join hands with Pakistani non-profit organization (NGO) Alkhidmat Foundation to provide relief to earthquake victims in Syria and Turkiye, and provide free meals to the less privileged in Pakistan during Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and charity. The first fast in Pakistan is likely to be observed on Thursday, March 23.
Through the collaboration, Carrefour said the two would provide meals to the less privileged Pakistanis in Ramadan and also send relief items to victims of the recent devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.
“We believe in the power of collective action and community support. We are greatly pleased to join hands with Alkhidmat Foundation to play our part in eliminating food hunger in the country, whilst providing relief to those affected by the earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria,” Umer Lodhi, Carrefour Pakistan’s country manager, said.
“We hope our combined efforts will make a positive impact on those who need it the most.”
The statement added that customers would also have the opportunity to give back to the community this Ramadan by purchasing special, pre-packed boxes filled with essential food items such as rice, flour, oil, dates & pulses.
The pre-packed boxes, it said, will then be distributed among needy families to help provide them some relief during Ramadan as the South Asian country grapples with decades-high inflation.
“Earthquake relief boxes comprising shelter supplies, clothing, and non-perishable food items are available for customers to buy and donate at all Carrefour stores,” the statement said.
