Friday, January 2, 2026
Home Blog Page 11823

ECP announces January 22 deadline for postal ballot applications ahead of General Elections

By
AHMD Raja
-
0
ECP
ISLAMABAD, Jan 3 (APP):The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has set January 22 as the deadline for receiving applications for postal ballot papers for the upcoming General Elections for the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baluchistan.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), this provision is exclusively offered to government officials, armed forces personnel, and individuals in public offices, along with their spouses and children residing in a location different from the registered constituency.
Additionally, individuals in detention and those with physical disabilities unable to travel, possessing a Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) with a physical disability logo issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), are eligible to cast their votes through postal ballots.
Likewise, individuals appointed by the Returning Officer, such as police personnel assigned duties at polling stations different from their designated voting location, must submit their postal ballot applications to the Returning Officer within three days of their appointments.
The ECP clarifies that these applications should be made using the specified form and submitted to the Returning Officer of the relevant constituency in which these individuals are registered as voters.
Those who receive postal ballots will not have the privilege to cast their votes in person at the polling stations. Alternatively, individuals can download the application forms from the Election Commission of Pakistan’s website, www.ecp.pk.

FIA arrests man for fraud

By
AHMD Raja
-
0
FIA
LAHORE, Jan 03 (APP):The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested a man from Okara for getting money from a man on the promise of sending him abroad.
The Anti-Human Trafficking Circle took action against Asif Gul for deceiving a man with false promise of employment in the United Kingdom (UK) and receiving Rs 2.49 million from him.
Earlier, the Anti-Human Smuggling Circle had filed a case against the accused in Lahore who had gone into hiding after getting money.
Upon his arrest, a thorough investigation has been launched.

8.17 million cotton bales reach ginneries across Pakistan, 77 pc increase recorded

By
AHMD Raja
-
0
cotton
MULTAN, Jan 03 (APP):Seed cotton (Phutti) equivalent to 8.17 million or 81,71,082 bales have reached ginneries across Pakistan till Dec 31, 2023 recording an increase in arrivals by 77.14 per cent compared to corresponding period of the year 2022.
According to a fortnightly report issued by Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) here Wednesday, arrivals to factories increased by over 3.5 million bales, hence the 77.14 per cent increase recorded in 2023 till Dec 31 compared to 2022.
Over 4 million or 40,78,769 bales’ arrival was recorded at ginning factories in Punjab, showing a surge by over 1.3 million bales compared to the year 2022 calculated at 47.66 per cent. In Sindh, arrivals were recorded at over 4 million or 40,92,313 bales, showing a jump by 2.241 million bales, recording a whopping 121.16 per cent increase compared to corresponding period of 2022.
Over 8 million or 80,82,744 bales were converted into bales at ginning factories.
Textile sector continued to maintain its position as the biggest buyer with a figure of over 7.3 million or 73,14,127 bales bought while exporters and traders bought 2,92,126 bales.
Exactly 241 ginning factories were operational in the country including 210 alone in Punjab that have so far prepared over 4 million or 40,80,064 bales in the province.
 Arrival of cotton to ginneries in Balochistan was recorded at 187221 bales.
Exactly 5,64,829 bales were still present at the ginneries as unsold stock

AIOU resumes extra-curricular activities

By
AHMD Raja
-
0
AIOU
ISLAMABAD, Jan 03 (APP):Vice Chancellor of Allama Iqbal Open University(AIOU), Prof Dr. Nasir Mahmood said on Wednesday there is a dire need to attract children to co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
He said these activities instil the spirit of hard work in students while addressing the prize distribution ceremony of AIOU Annual Cricket Tournament 2024
Sports activities were halted due to the pandemic, now resuming those healthy activities is a very good initiative, he added.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasized the importance of sports in the physical and mental development of children and announced that sports activities will be organized in the university’s regional campuses.
Additionally, he mentioned that the renovation of residential colony blocks and the ground is in the planning stage, and sufficient funds will be allocated in the budget.
During a briefing on sports activities, Director of Student Affairs, Syed Ghulam Kazim Ali, informed the Vice Chancellor that cricket, badminton, table tennis and football teams have been formed at AIOU, and 60 teams participated in this cricket tournament with a total of 50 matches played.
DSA said that there were 2 categories in this tournament, one was the students’ category, and the other was the AIOU employees’ category.
The student category tournament was won by the university residential colony team while the final match of the employees’ category was played today between the admin and DRS teams, DRS team bags the winning trophy. At the end of the final match, all four finalist teams were introduced to the Vice Chancellor.

PSX turns around to bullish trend, gains 297 points

By
NNPS Desk
-
0
psx

ISLAMABAD, Jan 3 (APP): The 100-index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) turned around to bullish trend on Wednesday, gaining 297.25 points, a positive change of 0.46 percent, closing at 64,646.85 points against 64,349.60 points the previous trading day.

A total of 639,616,328 shares valuing Rs.20.282 billion were traded during the day as compared to 671,665,363 shares valuing Rs.24.451 billion the last day.

Some 366 companies transacted their shares in the stock market; 190 of them recorded gains and 159 sustained losses, whereas the share prices of 17 remained unchanged.

The three top-trading companies were K-Electric Ltd with 127,794,515 shares at Rs.5.47 per share, PTCL with 50,431,000 shares at Rs.13.49 per share and Pak Refinery with 35,835,842 shares at Rs.28.06 per share.

Pakistan Tobacco Company witnessed a maximum increase of Rs.57.89 per share price, closing at Rs.1,130.00, whereas the runner-up was Hoechst Pakistan with a Rs.30.00 rise in its per share price to Rs.1,350.00.

Pakistan Services Limited Limited witnessed a maximum decrease of Rs.27.34 per share closing at Rs.983.67, followed by Colgate Palmolive with Rs.17.49 decline to close at Rs.1,607.37.

Earthquake jolts Islamabad, adjacent areas

By
NNPS Desk
-
0
earthquake

Islamabad, Jan 03 (APP): The federal capital Islamabad and its neighbouring regions experienced a sudden jolt today as earthquake tremors sent shockwaves across the landscape, causing panic among residents.

According to the private news channel, the seismic activity was also felt in Rawalpindi, Attock, and Chakwal.

The seismological centre said that the magnitude of the earthquake was 4.9 on the Richter scale, the depth of the earthquake was 137 kilometres underground, the epicentre was the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, and the tremors were felt at 2:24 p.m.

No loss of life or property was reported from any part of the capital.

Secretary Industries and Commerce Punjab visited SCCI

By
Iqra Yousaf Iqra Yousaf
-
0
Secretary Industries Punjab

SIALKOT, Jan 03 (APP): Secretary Industries and Commerce Punjab Ehsan Bhutta along with Deputy Commissioner Sialkot Muhammad Zulqarnain visited Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
SCCI President Abdul Ghafoor Malik and Vice President (VP) Amer Majeed Sheikh warmly welcomed the guests.
The deputy commissioner and additional deputy commissioner (Finance & Planning) briefed a meeting about progress in establishment of business facilitation center (BFC) at Anwar club.
The meeting was attended by representatives of SCCI, district officer industries Sialkot and representatives of Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC).
Later, Secretary Industries and Commerce Punjab Ehsan Bhutta, along with deputy commissioner and SCCI president visited the site where work was going on. DC Muhammad Zulqarnain and team assured the visiting officials that the construction work would be completed by January 9, along with plantation by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).
The secretary appreciated performance of deputy commissioner Sialkot and his team. He said Punjab chief minister had promised that five new BFCs including in Sialkot and Gujranwala would be inaugurated in the next 10 days where more than 100 NOCs would be processed by 17 provincial government departments within 10-15 days.
The secretary industries said that at Lahore TEVTA College, two days of training of 50 focal persons had started on January 3 and training would continue for two days.
President SCCI Abdul Ghafoor Malik and Deputy Commissioner Sialkot thanked the Industry Secretary and Govt of Punjab and assured all our help and support to make this initiative a resounding success.

Gold rates down by Rs.1,300 to Rs.220,000 per tola

By
NNPS Desk
-
0

ISLAMABAD, Jan 3 (APP): The per tola price of 24 karat gold decreased by Rs.1,300 and was sold at Rs.220,000 on Wednesday compared to its sale at Rs.221,300 on the last trading day.

The price of 10 grams of 24 karat gold also decreased by Rs.1,115 to Rs.188,614 from Rs.189,729 whereas the price of 10 grams 22 karat gold went down to Rs.172,897 from Rs.173,918, the All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association reported.

The price of per tola and ten-gram silver remained unchanged at Rs2,680 and Rs.2,297.66 respectively.

The price of gold in the international market decreased by $.12 and was sold at $2,082 against $2,094, the Association reported.

Rupee gains 17 paisa against Dollar

By
NNPS Desk
-
0

ISLAMABAD, Jan 3 (APP): The Pakistani Rupee on Wednesday witnessed appreciation of 17 paisa against the US Dollar in the interbank trading and closed at Rs281.72 against the previous day’s closing of Rs281.89.

However, according to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the buying and selling rates of the Dollar in the open market stood at Rs 280.5and Rs283 respectively.

The price of the Euro decreased by Rs 2.19 to close at Rs308.62 against the last day’s closing of Rs310.81, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The Japanese Yen came down by 02 paisa and closed at Rs1.97, whereas a decrease of Rs3.10 was witnessed in the exchange rate of the British Pound, which traded at Rs356.24 compared to the last closing of Rs359.34.

The exchange rates of the Emirates Dirham and the Saudi Riyal decreased by 05 and 04 paisa to close at Rs76.70 and Rs75.12 respectively.

Dense foggy conditions may cause health issues among citizens; PMD warns

By
AHMD Raja
-
0
PMD
ISLAMABAD, Jan 3 (APP):Dense foggy conditions, continuing in Punjab, plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Sindh in coming days, as per the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD)’s forecast, can cause health issues among the citizens.
The PMD in its advisory issued on Wednesday warned that exposure to the foggy environment can cause health issues among the citizens.
Due to the stable atmosphere, prevailing dense foggy conditions will continue over Punjab including Islamabad, plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Sindh.
A rain-bearing westerly system is likely to enter Balochistan on January 04 and may affect parts of Balochistan till January 05.
Under the influence of this weather system, light to moderate rain-wind/thunderstorm with snowfall over hills is expected in Chaghi, Quetta, Chaman, Ziarat, Qilla Abdullah, Qillah Saifullah, Loralai, Pishin, Mastung, Zhob, Kalat, Musa Khel, Kharan, Harnai, Sibbi, Noshki, Khuzdar and Makran coast on January 04 and January 05.
About the impact of foggy conditions, the PMD said that the day temperatures are likely to drop 03-05 celsius degrees in coming days due to the foggy conditions.
Very cold weather conditions are likely to prevail in fog-affected areas. Flights, Railways and Highways/Motorways operations may be disrupted during the foggy conditions.
The travelers have been advised to remain cautious during the foggy days due to the reduced visibility level and avoid unnecessary travelling during the morning and night hours.
1...11,82211,82311,824...31,264Page 11,823 of 31,264

ABOUT US

Serving the nation since 1947 by providing an accurate, objective, uninterrupted flow of news to the people, the national news service is pursuing a comprehensive strategy to transform the existing news operations into a forward-looking service – APP Digital for its diverse subscriber-base and the public.

Contact us: news@app.com.pk

FOLLOW US

Copyright © Associated Press of Pakistan